Written by Teresa Holt and Darlene Supley
Updated: 31 minutes ago, Published: 1 hour ago
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Alaska has had the fastest growing elderly population per capita of all 50 states for 10 consecutive years. However, the governor's budget reflects a $2.7 million reduction in senior community-based grants for fiscal year 2024-2025. Community-based grants from the Department of Aging and Disability Services are by far the lowest cost of services for seniors and have helped approximately 20,000 older Alaskans become independent in their own homes and communities. Most effective in helping you get on with your life. Without a doubt, his $2.7 million cut to the governor's budget could lead to cuts to services including critical meals and transportation, increased waiting lists, and even program closures in some communities. there is. As a result, older adults may be unnecessarily pushed into more expensive institutional care.
The majority of us want to remain in our homes and communities as we age. We prefer home settings to nursing homes and other facilities, but that is also what is best for our nation and society. Senior Community Grants help older Alaskans stay in their homes for as long as possible by providing meals on wheels, group meals, transportation, light housekeeping, housekeeping services, adult day programs, and education and respite for family caregivers. We help provide support services such as: This is especially important for people whose income or assets are too high to qualify for Medicaid home or community-based services, but too low to receive private services. It is also important for patients with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias, who are not typically eligible for Medicaid waiver services.
Reductions in funding for senior living communities could result in programs moving from providing meals to seniors every day to once every other day. For some seniors, lunch or meal delivery from a senior center is the only meal they eat each day. Other programs require transportation services to be reduced or eliminated, with one in five seniors who do not drive required transportation for grocery shopping, medical appointments, and senior center activities. will be reduced or not available at all.
We urge the Alaska Legislature to make the fiscally responsible choice to restore $2.7 million in fiscal year 2025 senior community-based grants. This will ensure that senior care providers do not have to cut current services, which are already strained by the growing number of seniors and increased food insecurity. As members of the Finance Committee ponder the many budget options before them, rebuilding this small endowment is not only the right thing to do for seniors, but also the right fiscal choice for Alaska. .
Teresa Holt is AARP's state director. Darlene Supplee is executive director of the Fairbanks Senior Center and a member of the Alaska Commission on Aging.
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