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Council on Aging urged to press lawmakers as elder-services funding remains uncertain
Summary
At its meeting, the Council on Aging heard an update from member Robert Kucharavi on an elder-services annual meeting that described fluctuating federal and state funding and urged local advocacy to preserve services.
Robert Kucharavi, a member of the Council on Aging, reported back from the elder services annual meeting where presenters described funding for elder services as unstable and urged communities to contact state and federal elected officials to press for continued support.
"Don't panic," Kucharavi said the presenters advised, but he relayed their central recommendation: "now is the time to rally the legislatures both on state and federal level" and to share personal stories to underscore the need for funding. The presenters included an associate director from Boston's Council on Aging and an elder affairs lobbyist.
Kucharavi told the council that some federally distributed grants had been delayed and that agencies had not been paid from the second half of the prior fiscal year; he also said the federal government had begun releasing the remaining funds. He described a broader uncertainty that leaves local programs at risk and urged members to submit letters or calls to elected officials. "Their suggestion is now is the time to rally the legislatures both on state and federal level," Kucharavi said.
Members asked about practical steps. Kucharavi said he would try to obtain contact information or a template from Mary Anne Ryan so members could more easily reach state and federal offices. Laura said she could include a short template or link in the Salt Marsh newsletter if one is provided. Several members noted phone and email systems for federal offices can be difficult to navigate, and they asked for the most effective contact methods.
Kucharavi also described the consequences he observed during recent site visits: among five senior centers he visited in April, only one had an active Meals on Wheels program because of funding shortages. Council members discussed local fundraising and advocacy as ways to shore up services but took no formal action beyond agreeing to prepare outreach to elected officials and to distribute any templates or contact lists provided by elder services leadership.
