State aging services director outlines rising demand, housing and transition requests tied to DOJ settlement

Nancy Nicholas Meyer, director of Adult and Aging Services, told the Senate Appropriations Committee’s Human Resources Division that the agency is seeing sharply rising demand for home- and community-based services and requested targeted funding to support transitions, housing assistance and adult protective services.

Meyer said the agency serves roughly 3,500 people in state- and federally funded home- and community-based services and that referrals are running at about 150 new referrals a month, with roughly 80 of those converting to active cases. She identified several funding requests in the agency’s decision package: $300,000 in general funds for state rental-assistance to meet Department of Justice settlement benchmarks, $5.2 million to continue transition and diversion supports, and $718,522 to sustain adult protective services contracts in three regions.

Why it matters: The agency’s requests are tied to an ongoing settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice that requires the state to expand community options and reduce unnecessary institutional placements. Meyer told lawmakers that housing remains the top barrier to transitioning people from institutional settings to integrated community homes.

Key points from the testimony - Intake and navigation: The Aging and Disability Resource Link (ADRL) now serves as the state’s intake system for aging and…