Summary of 2007
Community Input Meetings 

Western Illinois Area Agency on Aging (WIAAA) conducted Community Input Meetings on February 28 and March 1 and 13, 2007. The purpose of these meetings was to gather information from providers, seniors, legislators and the general public which may influence decisions regarding the development of the 2008-2010 Area Plan. The meetings were informal in nature and participants were welcome to discuss any topic they wished. Testimony at public hearings, scheduled for early May, affords another opportunity for input and possible change at the end of the development process.

This report summarizes the comments and recommendations from the meetings. Each meeting began with a brief introduction by Deb Castillo, WIAAA Information and Planning Manager. The WIAAA mission statement was read and there was discussion regarding the new state initiative: "The Maturing of Illinois: Getting Communities on Track for an Aging Population". This initiative was used as a basis for Phase I of our assessment of need entitled: "Livable Communities for All Ages – Preparing Illinois for an Aging Society". There was a brief discussion of the assessment and how it will assist WIAAA in preparing for the influx of the aging baby boomers by noting past and future population trends. Hand outs were also provided: The WIAAA brochure, the Community Focal Point brochure and copies of the current list of Service Priorities.

The discussion regarding the list of the Service Priorities was led by Janice Stille, Executive Director at WIAAA. She gave an explanation of each service, allowing for public comment and questions.

It was explained that all of the dollars allocated (by WIAAA) are earmarked for particular services. Under Title IIIB, those services are Information and Assistance, Outreach, Case Management, Transportation, Legal and Respite with Gap-filling funded entirely with State of Illinois General Revenue Funds (GRF). Congregate Meals are funded under Title IIIC1 and Home Delivered Meals under Title IIIC2. The service priority lists were revisited in January 2004 and were prioritized as follows:

• Community Focal Points
• Home Delivered Meals
• Transportation
• Case Management
• Congregate Meals
• Legal Assistance
• Gap Filling

In addition, the review in 2004 prioritized caregiver services for the first time. That proposed list for 2008 - 2010 is:

• Respite
• *Information
• Assistance
• Counseling/Training/Support Group
• Supplemental Services

*Please note that due to a definition change at the State level, "Information" is no longer funded by WIAAA and therefore no longer a part of the Caregiver priority list and Caregiver Outreach is being added to the priority list.

Discussion was raised at each of these meetings seeking input from the participants on the services and how they are prioritized. Attendees were asked to comment on the list as it currently stands and how they felt it should be prioritized.

At all three Community Input Meetings public comment revealed that this list of service priorities should remain in the same priority order for the upcoming Area Plan. Most attendees commented that these services were much needed in the communities.

There was an inquiry regarding the new Flexible Senior Services (FSS), asking why it was not included in the priority list. FSS is not on the list because it’s not funded by Older Americans Act funding. However, FSS may eventually have an impact on Gap-filling and Caregiver Supplemental Services. It may reduce the need for these two programs if an individual is covered by FSS.

A major concern for providers of transportation was the real lack of additional funding with which to provide this service. The costs of providing transportation have doubled or tripled in the last two years, putting a real strain on the providers’ budgets. The ongoing increase in expenses with no additional funding will ultimately result in less service for seniors.

One Director of a Community Focal Point (CFP) which provides transportation stated: "We have not received an increase in funding for the last ten years. Although we have not received increases in funding the number of seniors we have served through transportation has grown in these same ten years. Our liability, commercial and auto insurance for one year for this agency ten years ago cost $4,152. This year, for that very same coverage it cost this agency $20,583 which is five times the amount that we paid ten years ago. We are desperate for new money to come into this agency to be able to continue to provide services to our seniors.

Gasoline ten years ago was approximately $1.65 per gallon and today it fluctuates from $2.59 to $3.00 per gallon. It costs us approximately $70 to fill each van which may last one to one and a half days (of providing transportation).

In the past few years the Governor has increased the minimum wage by at least $2.00 but has given us no additional funding in order to pay our personnel to do that (increase salaries). This raise is going to cost the agency $20,000. The only way to stay in business at that cost without an increase in funding is to cut services. We’re looking at reducing transportation to running just 3 days per week" if transportation funding does not increase.

WIAAA staff responded that they are very aware of the difficulties facing the providers regarding operational costs. WIAAA is continually seeking solutions to this funding shortage by advocating on behalf of its seniors and providers. WIAAA attempts to remain on the cutting edge of new and innovative ideas on how to meet these needs with adaptive measures and continues to collaborate with other organizations in order to find a solution. Sadly, funding increases are not on the horizon in the near future. Advocacy for additional funding is critical to help resolve these problems.

Seniors and their caregivers and families carry the greatest weight when approaching government entities for more financial assistance for senior programs. Participants of the meetings were strongly encouraged to write to the Governor and their State and Federal representatives. Something needs to happen at the State and Federal levels to see that funding is increased so that services do not need to be cut back or dropped all together.

WIAAA will hold Public Hearings in May which will afford the public another opportunity to make comment regarding the development of its 2008-2010 Area Plan:

Testimony may be presented verbally or in writing. If you wish to testify at one or more of these meetings, please contact Deb Castillo, Information and Planning Manager at WIAAA. You may call 1-800-322-1051 or 1-309-793-6800 or e-mail: dcastillo@wiaaa.org. For those wishing to testify at the hearings, at least one written copy of your testimony should be available for the hearing panel. Written testimony will be accepted from seniors, providers, legislators and the general public through May 11, 2007.

Copies of the WIAAA Public Information Document (PID) will be available at these Public Hearings.

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