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Freeholders Say Senior Programs Could Be Harmed By Federal Cuts
OCEAN COUNTY - With growing concern over federal funding not keeping pace with the increasing needs of the senior population, Ocean County is urging its congressional leaders to take action that will help stop the financial erosion of quality of life programs.
"The budget funding for Older Americans Act programs has been on the decline over the last several years as federal funding has not kept pace with the rate of inflation or the growing population of older adults requiring services," said Freeholder Director Joseph H. Vicari, who serves as chairman of the Ocean County Office of Senior Services. "This stagnation of federal funding is exacerbated by the skyrocketing costs of food and fuel."
Vicari noted programs like the county's home delivered meals program and also transportation programs could fall victim to these budgetary shortfalls.
"We have always pledged that our residents would not be placed on a waiting list to get that life-sustaining meal that they count on each and every day," Vicari said. "This board of freeholders has done an outstanding job in picking up the financial slack where our state and federal governments have not."
Vicari has already sent letters to the New Jersey congressional delegation and the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee urging support of emergency funding for Older Americans Act programs within a proposed second economic stimulus package.
"If approved, this bill would provide urgently needed funds for these programs in this current fiscal year," Vicari said. "It's imperative our federal representatives advance this legislation and they do it now."
Currently, the Senate Appropriations Committee is considering a economic stimulus supplemental spending bill, which could go to the Senate floor when Congress returns in September. The first draft of this supplemental spending bill includes much needed funding for the elderly nutrition program under the Older Americans Act.
"We can only do so much on the county level," Vicari said. "We really need the federal government to do its job and provide funding at levels that will not only sustain the programs but allow us to meet the growing needs of a frail and elderly population."
In 2007, the Ocean County Board of Chosen Freeholders addressed the need to expand the home delivered meals program and currently the program is serving an additional 104 meals per day this year as compared to last. And, of the 45 routes operated by Community Services Inc., 25 are at or above capacity, according to Jane Maloney, director of the Ocean County Offi ce of Senior Services.
She said the meal providers and county offi cials are working to address the increased demands upon the program; however, this demand is tied to the increasing number of residents living in Ocean County that are 85-years-old and older.
Vicari said that while Congress is out of session, he will use the time to make it a priority for the rest of August to get attention focused on the need for increased funding for Older Americans Act programs by asking for local and state support especially for the additional funds for elderly nutrition programs.
"Investing in home and community-based care is far more cost effective, in economic and human terms, than paying for Medicare health care claims, Medicaid nursing home bills or losing the economic and social contributions of older Americans," Vicari said.
He added that the Ocean County Office of Senior Services and the network it administers are trusted sources for older adults and caregivers.
"Services such as senior transportation programs, outreach, information and assistance and in-home services and others are key to keeping individuals in their own homes," Vicari said. "Our nutrition programs also provide a significant benefit in that our seniors have someone to check on them daily when they have a meal delivered to their home."
"This direct contact makes a world of difference to seniors that may be shut in and have limited outside contact," Vicari said. "To say 'no, we can't provide you with this service because we don't have the funds' is just unacceptable. Federal relief is imperative."
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