Living into Brio’s Vision: A World in Which All are Empowered to Age Well

January is National Poverty in America Awareness Month, a time to wrestle with the impact poverty has on our society. As the population of older adults continues to grow, the number of those living in poverty has also risen, up to 15% nationwide, according to the National Council on Aging (NCOA) in September 2025. NCOA President and CEO Ramsey Alwin stated, “Aging with dignity continues to be out of reach for far too many Americans who worked hard and played by the rules.” With rising costs for food, housing, utilities, medicines, and healthcare, older adults on fixed incomes are stretched to the breaking point.

In Michigan, as well as in Kent County, approximately 11% of older adults live below the poverty level; in Wayne County, that number is nearly doubled at 21%. Over half of Michigan’s households headed by individuals aged 65 or over fall into the “ALICE” category (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed)—households with earnings above the official Federal Poverty Level, but that cannot afford the basic costs of living. Older women experience higher poverty rates than older men, and black older adults have one of the highest rates at 17.6%.

Brio Living Services and the UMRC-Porter Hills Foundation are committed to serving older adults—more than 8,000 annually—of all socioeconomic levels across our state, as part of our faith-based heritage and mission. We believe it is only right that ALL older adults, regardless of their ability to pay, receive the highest quality care and services they need to thrive. Brio offers several residential and home- and community-based options for low-income older Michiganders, including:

· PACE: Programs of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE), serves the psycho-social, medical, and supportive needs of low-income, nursing home-eligible adults, aged 55 and up, helping them remain living independently and safely in their own homes, with the help of PACE services. PACE’s interdisciplinary team of professionals provides participants with a “one-stop” shop model for all their healthcare needs, including comprehensive medical, occupational and physical therapy, pharmacy needs, nutrition and meals, health education, social and recreational activities, behavioral health, home care, and door-to-door transportation. Most participants are dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid and pay no fees for PACE services.

Brio’s PACE partnerships include Huron Valley PACE in Ypsilanti, Thome PACE in Jackson, LifeCircles PACE in Holland and Muskegon, and PACE of Southwest Michigan in St. Joseph. Together, our PACE sites serve more than 1,300 older adults annually across fourteen Michigan counties, with additional Day Centers planned.

“It gives such peace of mind for all of our family, knowing Mom is receiving excellent and compassionate PACE care and services,” said one participant’s daughter. “Mom is more active and engaged with the support of PACE. PACE has been a life saver.”

· Affordable Living Communities: Brio offers seven affordable living communities; six in Kent County (Bailey’s Grove, Harvest Way, Oak Ridge, River Grove, Station Creek, and Walker Meadow Retirement Communities), and The Thome Rivertown Neighborhood in Detroit, offering truly affordable assisted living. Nearly 370 low-income older adults call these communities home.

“As soon as I moved in, they made me feel welcome,” said Norma T. “Living here has made me more social. Before, I felt like I was in a cocoon. I should have moved here a long time ago, as soon as I retired. Now, I have companionship.”

· Long-term skilled nursing: While some senior living providers across Michigan have stopped investing in long-term care or are getting out of it altogether, Brio recognizes that there is still a need for high quality skilled care, offered in beautiful settings and focusing on person-directed care. Approximately 70% of those we serve in our healthcare centers are low-income and receive Medicaid. Brio Living Services bridges the gap between what Medicaid covers and the actual costs of quality skilled nursing care. These include Kresge Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center (Chelsea Retirement Community) and the Health Center at Porter Hills Village and Green House® Homes in Grand Rapids.

· Benevolent Care: The cornerstone of the UMRC-Porter Hills Foundation is the Benevolent Care Fund, available to qualified residents of Brio’s flagship campuses in Chelsea and Grand Rapids, who exhaust their savings through no fault of their own. These older adults live primarily in our assisted living and memory support neighborhoods. Approximately $1 million is provided each year, thanks to generous gifts to the Foundation’s Benevolent Care Fund.

“I have been, and continue to be, so pleased that Mom’s circumstance is being met with the fulfilled promise of Benevolent Care,” said the daughter of a Benevolent Care recipient. “This is not something I thought we would need, but it was an important consideration when we were making our decision about where she would move to. My mother worked hard, was frugal, saved, and lived in her home for decades. That she has a place of safety, warmth, and care now is so important, and I am grateful.”

Brio’s vision is a world in which all are empowered to age well. At Brio, we believe it is only right that all older adults, regardless of their ability to pay, receive the highest quality care—whether in their own homes, or in beautiful, state-of-the-art communities. Learn how you can help support these communities and initiatives, or visit MyBrio.org to find a setting that is just right for you or your loved one.