What Are The Major Issues Facing The
Seniors In Western Illinois?

WIAAA looks forward to addressing the changing needs of the next generation of seniors as we continue each day to provide the best quality of service possible for our older and more frail elderly.

At the Federal Level: WIAAA will focus on several issues at the federal level in FY 2004.

• Budgetary issues. We will continue to work for an overall increase in Older American Act appropriations to meet the increasing demand by older people for community based services like transportation, information, outreach and so forth. There was a slight increase in funding for home delivered meals in FY 2003 and slight cuts in other services. The current level of funding for the National Family Caregiver Support Program has been increased but needs are even greater.
  
• Census Decline. The 60+ population in our planning and service area has declined by about 3000 persons. This will continue to affect result in a slight reduction in our share of federal and state funding.
  
• Medicare Reform. Numerous bills have been introduced addressing Medicare reform, but the first step, prescription drug coverage, has not yet been passed.

At the State Level: We are assuming the status quo.

• State Budget. Our service providers' employees need a living wage and benefits. Services funded directly by the state, such as the Community Care Program, have seen several Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) increases during the past decade, while Older American Act services have not.

The new Senior Health Assistance Program (SHAP), encompassing the SeniorCare program and the Circuit Breaker/Pharmaceutical Outreach Program, will provide welcome relief to low income seniors in the cost of prescriptions.

• Assisted Living and Shared Housing Act. This Act has been passed and became effective January 1, 2001. Assisted living will allow more seniors to retain their independence longer. We continue to await licensing of these facilities in order to be able to use them for institutional respite.

At the Local Level: WIAAA is making only minor changes at the local level.

• Home Delivered Meals. Our providers have made great strides with this the increased funding received during the past years. They have increased the number of persons who receive meals and the geographic area covered. The need continues for additional funding to provide for equipment and staff to expand the program even further. Providers tell us that they will need more paid drivers and delivery vehicles to expand any further.

Some providers are able to deliver an additional sack meal or frozen meals to supplement needs for evening or weekend meals. In several counties frozen meals are also available on an ongoing basis when they are located in a remote area. In Rock Island, our largest county, we help fund a program to provide meals on many holidays to those most in need.

There is a greater demand for home delivered meals over the years as the clients originally served congregate meals age and become homebound. Choices for Care means we can expect more frail elderly to need opt more often for in-home and community-based services to replace the institutional care of the past. Providers are predicting that the Medicaid cuts to health care providers will impact the senior service providers as earlier hospital discharges and longer delays in entering nursing homes result, including an increase in home delivered meals.

The Program Committee of the WIAAA Board of Directors has considered what the priorities should be in use of the additional funds - such as whether meals should be provided seven days a week, two or three meals per day, or hot meals in even the most rural areas. These priorities have been incorporated into the scoring tool of full Request for Proposal for FY 2003-2005. An increase in home delivered meals appropriations would further this effort. Any additional home delivered meal funding will be used for the expansion of the home-delivered meal program. Our Board of Directors will evaluate current service availability and make a decision about whether the funding should be allocated according to the established funding formula or targeted to currently under-served or unserved areas.

• Caregiver Support Program. This exciting program and its services involves our Community Focal Point/Family Resource Centers, the Case Coordination Unit, a WIAAA staff coordinator, enhanced working relationships between providers, and linkages with other community organizations.
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