In Washtenaw County, the 65-plus population is expected to double—from 43,000 to 92,000—over the next three decades. The aging population requires that we work to ensure that all of the county’s seniors, regardless of race, gender, or economic status, have access to the services they need for healthy aging.
In 2015, the Washtenaw Health Initiative assessed the range and availability of senior services across Washtenaw County to determine if the county was ready for the pending age wave. The group continued to meet to discuss challenges and opportunities and today, the WHI’s senior service work is housed under the Healthy Aging Collaborative.
The cross-sector Healthy Aging Collaborative is developing a county-wide healthy aging strategy and promoting age-friendly practices. The group is focused on specific service areas or domains, such as equity, caregiving, faith communities, housing, nutrition, and more. The first domain the group focused on was equitable transportation for Washtenaw’s aging population.
Equitable transportation Solutions
In March of 2023, the Healthy Aging Collaborative hosted a Transportation Summit which convened dozens of local stakeholders. Summit speakers hailed from the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT), the Ann Arbor Area Transportation Authority (The Ride), and Feonix – Mobility Rising, a national nonprofit that aims to reduce transportation barriers. Between each speaker, attendees discussed equitable transportation solutions.
Following the summit, the group published a call to action to inspire the community to address gaps in the county’s transportation services. This work is continuing through a Feonix Mobility Rising initiative to create a transportation hub and a research report on challenges and opportunities for non-emergency medical transportation.
Affordable Housing
The Healthy Aging Collaborative is now focused on senior housing needs.