Elder Affairs: meals remain free, outreach reduced to one coordinator after grant loss

The Department of Elder Affairs told the City Council that it is operating a level-of-service budget while managing grant changes that reshaped staffing.

"We do have 10 full time employees under our general fund and 10 employees under our grants," Roy Goodman, director of Elder Affairs, said, adding the department has posted positions and a recent retirement is being filled. Goodman said the department lost one grant-funded outreach worker when a partner reduced grant funds, but finance covered one outreach-coordinator position in the general fund.

That staffing shift reduced total FTEs reported in the packet, but Goodman told the council the remaining outreach coordinator is meeting current needs. He said the department is "always trying to find ways to be creative and get them into the building," and listed programs such as scam-prevention education with the mayor’s office of consumer affairs, Eversource and Baystate Health.

Councilors asked about meals at senior centers. Goodman said meals have been free for four years and the city funds the program through OTPS; he identified the budgeted meal funding as roughly $242,000 and noted a vendor contract runs through Aug. 31 and the department will decide whether to issue an RFP or directly hire a chef.

Councilors also discussed the senior tax write-off program (22 applicants this round; 15 remain eligible) and transportation barriers that limit older residents’ access to centers. No formal action was taken on the Elder Affairs budget at the hearing.