Tri-County Office on Aging

09/06/2026

The TCOA office will be closed tomorrow - Monday, September 7th - in recognition of Labor Day.

We will reopen on Tuesday, September 8 for our regular hours.

09/05/2026

September is National Kinship Care Month! 👵👶👴

Kin caregivers save taxpayers $10.5 billion every year by keeping children safe, loved, and with family. Without them, our foster care system would be completely overwhelmed.

But these caregivers take on this responsibility at great personal cost.

Many live on fixed incomes and step in with little warning to care for children who have experienced trauma, parental opioid and substance use, or loss. They stretch every dollar to provide stability — yet most receive little to no support.

Kin caregivers already do so much. Children should not have to enter foster care just to access basic services.

If you are a Kinship Caregiver, TCOA wants to help! Learn about our Kinship Care Respite Program for adults 55+ in the Tri-county area at https://tcoa.org/service/kinship-care-respite-program/.

It’s time we show up for the caregivers who show up for our kids.

09/04/2026

Our partners at MSU Extension have several online workshops starting soon to help you improve your health!

Below is just a few of the options available:
- Chronic Pain PATH Toolkit—October 6-November 17, 2026, 10:00-11:00 AM ET
- Chronic Disease Toolkit—October 28-December 2, 2026, 11:00 AM-12:00 PM ET

More options are available online. For more information and registration visit https://www.canr.msu.edu/food_health/virtual-health-programs-calendar

09/03/2026

Happy September! 🍂Fall is just around the corner, and we're gearing up for a new season of Health & Wellness Workshops!

Check out these upcoming September and October workshops helping you take that next step to manage your own health and wellness and live your best life. 💪🧠 (Click on each image for more details!)

📅 View all upcoming classes at https://tcoa.org/service/health-and-wellness-workshops/.

📞 Register by calling 517-887-1465 or emailing [email protected]. All programs are offered at no cost. Donations welcome!

09/01/2026

TCOA needs your help! 👋 Check out this list of our top volunteer needs, and learn how you can make a big difference in your community!

Clinton County

🚗 Meals on Wheels drivers urgently needed in Clinton County.

Eaton County

🚗Delivering Meals on Wheels for the following:
- Grand Ledge at 10:30am on Mondays.

Ingham County

📝Volunteering as a State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) Counselor.

🍎Central Kitchen Food Production Line (9am-1pm Mon-Fri) OR packing meal boxes (12 noon - 2pm on Wednesdays).

🚗Delivering Meals on Wheels in Greater Lansing for the following:
- West/North Lansing Mondays, Tuesdays, and/or Wednesdays.
- W. Mt Hope/MLK Area on Mondays.
- Okemos/Haslett on Mondays, Tuesdays, and/or Fridays.
- Miller/Waverly/Jolly Area on Mondays, Wednesdays, and/or Fridays.

🚗Delivering Meals on Wheels in Rural Ingham County for the following:
- Substitute drivers in Leslie and Onondaga
- Mason on Tuesdays and every other Friday
- Dansville on Mondays
- Stockbridge on Thursdays
- Holt on Mondays, most Thursdays, and most Fridays
*Meal Pick-Up for Rural Ingham occurs at 10:30am

*Pick-Up Locations will be in the same local area as the delivery route.

Learn more and apply at tcoa.org/volunteer/ or call Kayla Nichols at 517-887-1487.

Please share and spread the word — helping us find volunteers helps us continue serving those who rely on these programs and services every day. 🌟

08/30/2026

🤔❓When am I able to change my Medicare advantage or drug plan?

Answer: You are able to change your Advantage or Drug Plan every year during Open Enrollment (Oct. 15-Dec. 7). The plan change would begin January 1 of the following year.

You are also able to change your Advantage Plan a second time between January 1 and March 31. The change would begin the 1st of the following month.

🌟Need assistance with Medicare? 🌟

📞 Contact the Statewide MI Options Call Center at 1-800-803-7174 or contact TCOA at 517-887-1416 to schedule an appointment with a certified SHIP (State Health Insurance Assistance Program) counselor and get the support you need.

08/29/2026

Are you a Caregiver? September's MI Virtual Caregiver Support Groups are just around the corner!

💙MI Virtual Caregiver Support Groups offer a safe, understanding space to share experiences, talk through challenges, and connect with others who truly “get it.” These informal groups provide open conversation, reflection, and peer support with people walking a similar path.

🗓 Support Group Schedule (via Zoom):
• General Caregiver Group: 1st Monday | 5:30–7:00 PM
• Dementia Caregiver Group: 1st Wednesday | 5:00–6:30 PM
• Kinship Caregiver Group: 2nd Thursday | 10:00–11:30 AM

🔗 Join on Zoom: Meeting ID: 876 5118 1524
📞 Dial-in: 1-312-626-6799 (enter Meeting ID when prompted)

You don’t have to navigate caregiving alone — there’s a community here to support you. 🫶

08/28/2026

🥳🙌Coming Soon – Senior Congregate Dining at the Alfreda Schmidt Community Center!!

Join in for activities, connection, and great food to support wellness in mind, body, and spirit.

Serving meals at 12 noon Monday – Friday. *DINE-IN ONLY. NO TAKE-OUT.

What You'll Enjoy:
🌟Fresh, wholesome meals.
🌟Friendship and social connection.
🌟Educational presentations.
🌟Entertaining activities and special events.
🌟A welcoming atmosphere where everyone belongs.

Who Can Participate?
🎂Adults 60 years of age and older living in Clinton, Eaton, and Ingham counties.

Meal Donation:
🎁No payment is required. Voluntary donations are appreciated and help support the programs.

To learn more, visit tcoa.org/service/nutrition/senior-congregate-dining-sites/ or call 1-888-224-3030 Option 5.

08/28/2026

A recent CNN article about Dolly Parton’s experience caring for her late husband shines a light on something many caregivers know well: when caring for someone you love, it can be easy to put your own health and well-being aside.

Caregiving is an act of love—but caregivers need care, too. ❤️

If you’re a caregiver in need of support, you’re not alone. TCOA offers a variety of resources, including an upcoming Powerful Tools for Caregivers Workshop to help you care for yourself while caring for others.

Powerful Tools for Caregivers Workshop:
📅 Tuesdays, October 13–November 17
📍 Delta Township District Library

Learn more: https://tcoa.org/service/health-and-wellness-workshops/powerful-tools-for-caregivers/

Like many caregivers, Dolly Parton didn’t take care of her own health while caring for her ailing husband. That’s not unusual, even among people with resources.