Missoula Aging Services reports 52,328 Meals on Wheels and expanded benefits assistance in first half of FY2025

Missoula Aging Services provided an update to the Committee of the Whole on March 5 covering client services, community engagement and advocacy work for the first half of fiscal 2025.

The council presenter reported that Missoula Aging Services delivered 52,328 Meals on Wheels to 479 older adults and provided 13,578 community lunches for 570 people. The organization responded to more than 14,000 requests for information and assistance and helped almost 1,600 individuals access public benefits such as Medicare and Medicaid. Presenters said the organization helped older adults save more than $320,000 in Medicare premiums and copays.

Staffing and direct services noted in the update included in-home homemaking and personal care for 32 older adults, comprehensive care management for 58 people with dementia or other complex needs, more than 500 hours of respite care to family caregivers and volunteer caring companions for 33 older adults to reduce social isolation. The agency supported 94 veterans through the veteran-directed care program and completed 24 home accessibility modification projects. The presenter also said Missoula Aging Services conducted more than 1,200 contacts and 379 visits on behalf of nursing home and assisted-living residents and distributed elder-abuse and fraud-prevention information to nearly 7,000 people.

Community engagement and planning: the presenter said the agency provided input to local planning efforts, including the Missoula code reform, the long-range transportation plan and the county health improvement plan, and has held community conversations about aging. The agency also circulated a new strategic plan identifying five pathways to support older adults.

Advocacy and funding: Missoula Aging Services and partner aging networks have advocated at the federal level for preservation of Older Americans Act funding (which the presenter said accounts for about 22% of MAS funding) and for Medicaid home- and community-based services. At the state level, the presenter said association work is seeking an additional $2 million annually to support area agencies on aging through an amendment currently in the state appropriations process; the presenter also referenced state bills SB 72 (presumptive Medicaid eligibility) and SB 100 (allowing community first choice to cover assisted-living services). The presenter said MAS opposes property tax-levy bills that could jeopardize aging services funding across Montana.

The update was delivered as an informational report to the committee; no formal action or vote followed.