Idaho Commission on Aging presents needs assessment; focuses on caregivers, social isolation and technology access

Judy Taylor, director of the Idaho Commission on Aging, told the Senate Health & Welfare Committee the commission completed a statewide needs assessment to inform its 2024–2028 state plan, as required by federal and state law. The assessment drew 1,109 unique respondents from 37 of Idaho’s 44 counties and included in-person meetings, telephone and paper surveys, and an online option.

Taylor said the commission analyzed responses for all respondents, a high-risk cohort (those reporting fair, poor or very poor quality of life), and separate urban and rural cohorts. The commission found caregivers are overrepresented among the high-risk group: “33 percent of our high risk respondents said they cannot care for another individual without hurting their health,” Taylor said, and noted that caregivers often lack needed help and are at elevated risk for poor quality of life.

The needs assessment showed urban respondents reported lower quality-of-life measures than rural respondents in several areas, including social engagement and physical activity. Technology access and confidence surfaced as a gap: high-risk respondents reported lower ability to use technology for social connection and support.

Taylor told senators the ICOA used the assessment to shape its 2024–2028 state plan, which federal funders accepted without edits in October. Specific objectives in the plan include implementing case management and benefits counseling as a local information-and-assistance resource, prioritizing nutrition and increasing the proportion of high-risk clients served, requiring each area agency on aging to run at least two assisted-technology projects and two multicomponent social events, and asking senior centers to participate annually in a loneliness-reduction activity. Taylor said ICOA operates 62 meal sites statewide.

Committee members asked about prior payment delays for senior-center meal providers and home-delivered meal contractors. Vicki Anzick, project manager at the Commission on Aging, said there had been an issue with one local area agency and with the launch of the state payment system LUMA but said, “To my knowledge, those have all been resolved as of today or as of this timeframe.”

On funding and allowable administrative costs, a commission staffer (identified in the hearing as Ms. Schneck) told Senator Shippey the federal Older Americans Act caps administrative costs at 10 percent; ICOA policy requires that 50 percent of all funding go directly to contracted client services. The staffer said ICOA limits charging a full-time staff position to a program for congregate and home-delivered meals, with the remainder of funds required to go to meal providers.

Taylor said ICOA has a dementia/caregiver program for high-risk caregivers and emphasized prevention: "Every dollar of prevention gets you $3 of results," she said, noting prevention strategies include socialization, nutrition, disease management and other life-course health measures. Taylor said the commission and the state’s ADRD (Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias) partners work closely on planning and implementation.