[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 11]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 15939-15940]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



HONORING ROBERT DOLSEN UPON HIS RETIREMENT AS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF 
               MICHIGAN'S REGION IV AREA AGENCY ON AGING

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. FRED UPTON

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, July 24, 2000

  Mr. UPTON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor my friend, Robert 
Dolsen, upon his retirement after 26 years of dedicated service as the 
Executive Director of the Region IV Area Agency on Aging. Over the 
years, Bob has made a tremendous difference in the lives of thousands 
of elderly and their families in St. Joseph/Benton Harbor and 
surrounding communities. He has been a great community leader.

[[Page 15940]]

  Bob established the Region IV Area Agency on Aging in 1974 as a small 
operation with a staff of four. Today, the Agency operates with a staff 
of 60 and a budget of over $10 million. Through the Agency, over 5,000 
families are receiving the support services they need to maintain their 
independence through life's transitions and changes.
  Bob has long recognized that one of the greatest challenges facing 
our community and our nation is the aging of our population and the 
need for long-term care services. He is providing great leadership on 
this issue. We are growing old--fast. Today, those 65 and over comprise 
12 percent of our population. In just 30 years, those 65 and over will 
comprise nearly 20 percent of our population. One in five Americans 
will be a senior citizen. Rising to this challenge, Bob established the 
first demonstration project for Michigan's home-based long-term care 
system. It was successful and led to the State's initiation of a 
Medicaid waiver for home-based services and to the statewide 
replication of care management through Area Agencies on Aging.
  Bob is recognized state-wide and nationally for his knowledge of 
aging issues, and especially long-term care. He has testified before 
Congressional committees on 9 different occasions, he is a frequent 
speaker and trainer at statewide and national conferences, and he was 
the 1992 recipient of the Harry J. Kelley Award from the Michigan 
Society of Gerontology for outstanding service in the development of 
policy and programs for older persons. He is a founding member of the 
Great Lakes Alliance, an interstate corporation to facilitate 
cooperation and communication on age-related issues among six states, 
and he is a founding member of the Healthy Berrien Coalition, an 
initiative designed to mobilize key community resources to bring the 
health status of Berrien County's citizens up to or above national and 
state standards. Last year, it was my pleasure and honor to co-host a 
forum on Aging in America with the Coalition. Bob also serves on the 
Public Policy Committee of the National Association of Area Agencies on 
Aging and was on the Association's Board of Directors for 8 years. He 
is the past president and a current Board member for the Area Agencies 
on Aging Association of Michigan. In addition, Bob has served on the 
Board of the Michigan Society of Gerontology, the Statewide Health 
Coordinating Council, and the Governor's Long-term Care Task Force.
  With all these responsibilities, Bob still finds the time and energy 
to serve on the United Way Allocation Committee, an advisory group 
recommending local United Way awards, and to actively participate in 
and be a benefactor of the St. Joseph-Benton Harbor Rotary Club.
  Southwest Michigan is a much better place for all of its citizens, 
and especially for the elderly, because we have been blessed with Bob 
Dolsen. He has touched each of our lives in ways large and small, and 
always with a gentle grace. I know everyone in Southwest Michigan joins 
me in wishing Bob Dolsen well upon his retirement and in thanking him 
from our hearts for all he has done and is doing for our community.

                          ____________________