STATE FUNDING FOR HOME DELIVERED MEALS FACT SHEET

WHAT IS THE PROBLEM?

Last fiscal year the Missouri General Assembly cut the home delivered meals program by $1,421,354. They stated that, although it was a core cut, it was their intention to restore the cut in the next fiscal year. A core cut is a permanent cut to our budget, versus a one-time cut. After the Department’s share and the governor’s withhold was figured, the actual amount of loss for Area Agencies on Aging was $1,378,713. According to the latest funding formula, Northwest Missouri would bear 5.78% of this burden, or $79,690.

WHY DIDN’T WE FEEL THE CUT AT THE SENIOR CENTER LEVEL?

The answer to that has multiple parts. First of all, at the same time we received the cut, we received some ARRA (most of us know it as stimulus) funding. In addition, there were slight increases in several of the federal fund sources. Lastly, the Area Agency used the carryover funds that we had to help offset.

WHAT HAPPENS IF THE LEGISLATURE DOES NOT RESTORE THE $1.4 MILLION?

Although we cannot pinpoint the exact amount of loss to contracts yet, due to the federal budget, there can be no argument that there would be losses to all ten Area Agencies in the state. At a time when we are stretched to the limit on lack of cost of living increases, rising costs and declines in local cash resources, the impact to centers and their clients has the potential to be severe. At this time the Area Agency has little or no reserves for home delivered meals due to the fiscal impact of the last several years. With the current state of the economy, senior centers have very limited options and reserves as well. The inevitable result is cutting services to clients. This, along with other cuts in home and community services, is likely to make it impossible for some of our clients to continue to live independently.

WHY SHOULD THE LEGISLATURE FUND THESE SERVICES OVER OTHER NEEDS?

Home and community based services like home delivered meals save the state money in the long run. In Northwest Missouri, the average cost of in-home services, including homemaker, personal care, home delivered meals, transportation and such is less than $15 per day. If someone is forced into facility care due to lack of these simple supports, the average cost per day jumps to $138 per day. This is usually the first step toward Medicaid eligibility, if they are already there.

WHAT CAN I DO?

You can stay informed and involved in your local community and senior center as well as politically. You can also advocate for those in your community and the fiscal responsibility of our state.