Office of the Aging reports surge in calls and caregiver service use

Anita Madison, director of the county Office of the Aging, told the Human Services Committee on Sept. 1, 2025, that the office has seen a marked increase in demand for services, including telephone inquiries and caregiver supports. Madison said the office received 2,219 front‑desk telephone calls in July 2025, up from 1,875 in the same month last year. She reported year‑to‑date totals of 14,626 calls in 2025, compared with 11,947 in 2024. She also said the office provided 215 units of caregiver service this month, compared with 142 units in the same period last year, and that those units include general caregiving and the Alzheimer’s Disease Caregiver Support Initiative (ADCSI). The increases, Madison told the committee, indicate heavier current demand for assistance and programs; committee members asked clarifying questions but did not take formal action on the monthly report. Chairman Jan Burdick called the numbers “impressive,” and the committee moved on after Madison answered questions about the figures and program categories. Committee members and staff did not provide additional program-level breakdowns during the meeting; Madison said details such as funding sources and the mix of service types are tracked in the office’s regular reports. The Office of the Aging will continue to present monthly statistics to the committee as part of its ongoing oversight. No motions or votes were recorded on the monthly report itself during the meeting.