Pilot adult day program serves 35, but county faces funding cliff and transportation shortfall

County staff updated the Rockingham County Board of Commissioners on Aug. 28 about a pilot adult day program that enrolled 35 people since December, with 26 currently active, and urged quick action to address funding and transportation gaps when grant funds end in December. The update: Christine, a county staff member administering the pilot, told commissioners, “From December until now, we enrolled a total of 35 different people,” and that 26 were active at the time of the meeting. She said three participants attended programs at Easterseals and the remainder at Silverthorn. Of the nine who left the program, Christine said four returned home with varied caregiving, three entered long-term care, and two were deceased. Why it matters: The pilot’s transportation component has been essential to attendance, staff said; the pilot covered transportation by adding two drivers at Silverthorn. Commissioners and staff noted the grant funding runs through December and that the state will not renew the pilot, so county leaders must decide whether to reallocate county adult medical day funds, carve out dedicated transportation dollars or identify other sources to avoid displacing participants. Key details reported to the board: - Enrollment and demographics: 35 enrolled since December; 26 active; ages ranged from 69 to 95 with an average age of 83; 13 men and 22 women; participants came from 13 towns, with the majority from Salem. - Participant dispositions: Of nine who left the program, Christine said four were at home with family caregiving support, three were in long-term care, and two were deceased. - Services and funding mechanics: The pilot paid program costs for people who were Medicaid-pending; county officials described a plan where certified Medicaid individuals could apply program funding toward a supplemental $15 per day payment (noted as the county’s contribution), while the pilot covered full costs for Medicaid-pending participants. Christine said the transportation component was “very, important” and that Chuck and the drivers at Silverthorn were “instrumental” in providing rides. - Timeline and risk: County staff said the pilot grant expires in December, that the state will not renew the pilot funding, and that Medicaid certification times are increasingly long — sometimes six to nine months — leaving participants in extended pending status. Christine and commissioners discussed using leftover adult medical day funds and potentially carving out a transportation block to continue services for the 26 active participants beyond December. Board direction and follow‑up: Commissioners asked staff to collect participant-level data now — specifically Medicaid certification status and pending timelines for the 26 active participants — and to return with a recommendation on whether the county should reallocate adult day funds for transportation or other bridging support. Christine agreed to prepare a set of questions and a spreadsheet to gather those details, and commissioners asked for an expedited review because December is about 90 days away. No vote was taken; the board requested staff analysis and a plan to sustain services for active participants if county funding is used or to identify alternative options.