Region IV Area Agency on Aging CEO Christine Vanlandingham has been in Washington, D.C. since last week to advocate for policies that benefit seniors. She tells us she was invited to testify before the Senate Special Committee on Aging about barriers faced by seniors seeking to reenter the workforce. They include a lack of access to technology training, lack of broadband, and age discrimination. Vanlandingham says members of Congress have been receptive to her message.
“It was, as one colleague said, one of the least contentious Senate hearings they’ve ever listened to because these caregiving issues and aging workforce issues are universal, and we can really come together and talk about what are some of the solutions that are proven to work in Michigan, in southwest Michigan, that might be adopted across the nation,” Vanlandingham said.
Vanlandingham says she’s been meeting with more members of Congress this week. The services offered to seniors here in southwest Michigan are part of the reason she was invited, as she notes the Campus for Creative Aging in St. Joseph does provide things like technology training. She’ll head back to the region today.
