AgeWays providing free caregiver-support access and weight-loss program for Manchester-area seniors
Visit AgeWays website at https://www.ageways.org to learn more about them! Photo from AgeWays website.
by Sara Swanson
On Tuesday, March 24, Taylor Clark, a representative of AgeWays, came to the Manchester Wellness Coalition meeting and gave a presentation on what AgeWays is and what it can do for Manchester-area seniors.
Originally established in 1974 as the Area Agency on Aging 1-B, AgeWays is a nonprofit that supports older adults, people with disabilities, and family caregivers in Livingston, Macomb, Monroe, Oakland, St. Clair, and Washtenaw counties.
AgeWays serves both as a central location for referrals and offers programs. Because we are on the very edge of their service area, most in-person programs are located too far away to be useful. Clark explained that in-person classes vary as they are coordinated with community partners, faith-based organizations, community centers, and libraries. She added that AgeWays is currently working with the Manchester Senior Center on a detailed presentation on how AgeWays can help Manchester seniors and caretakers. AgeWays also provides free enrollment in online classes, programs, and platforms.
Manchester’s Community Resource Center (CRC) fills much the same role as AgeWays in providing referrals for seniors and caregivers, but they do refer clients to AgeWays for a couple of virtual-direct services. One of these services, Carol Wotring, the CRC’s executive director, explained, is Trualta. AgeWays has partnered with a service called Trualta, an online learning and support platform, providing free access for family caregivers. She stated, “It is excellent.”
The Trualta website states, “The fact that healthcare aides receive comprehensive training for in-home care, while family members—who are the primary caregivers for most of us—often have limited resources, struck us as a significant oversight. Families need practical education on crucial aspects of care, such as how to prevent household accidents, safely assist with mobility, or handle the complex behaviors that come with chronic conditions. We have reimagined clinical skills training for non-professional caregivers.”
If you are a caregiver living in the Manchester area, you qualify for free access to Trualta through AgeWays. To access this, visit ageways.trualta.com. If you wonder what qualifies someone as a caretaker, Clark stated, “In my opinion, if you’re taking up space in your brain regarding a person over 60 or with a disability, you’re a caregiver.”
Wotring added that AgeWays also periodically sends out flyers on programs that they offer and the CRC tries to promote the virtual ones that Manchester residents could take part in. One online program Clark highlighted was Eat Smart, Move More Weigh Less. This 15-week interactive program includes 1-on-1 support with a registered dietitian and is free for seniors and caregivers in the Manchester area.
The program focuses on sustainable lifestyle changes and includes practical strategies for adopting healthier eating and exercise behaviors. Weekly interactive sessions feature a 3- to 5-minute physical activity break, guided discussions, and opportunities for participants to share and celebrate their progress. Participants can choose the class time that works best for their schedule.
For more information on or to register for Eat Smart, Move More Weigh Less, call 833-262-2200 or email wellnessprograms@AgeWays.org.
For more information on AgeWays, call 800-852-7795 or visit AgeWays.com.
Visit https://www.trualta.com to learn more about Trualta. Photo from Trualta website.
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