Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Elder Services topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Butler County Elderly Services tells Hamilton council program keeps nearly 1,200 local seniors at home; levy to expire in 2025
Summary
A Butler County Elderly Services (ESP) update told council the program provided in‑home services to almost 1,200 Hamilton residents in 2023, highlighted cost comparisons with nursing‑home care, and reminded the council that the county senior services levy funding ESP expires at the end of 2025.
Representatives of Butler County’s Elderly Services Program briefed Hamilton City Council on Aug. 14 about the program’s role in helping older residents remain in their homes and the funding timeline the council and community should track.
Sean Cowan, speaking for the Butler County Elderly Services/ESP, said the program provided in‑home supportive services to “almost 1,200 residents of the city of Hamilton” in 2023 and that the countywide program served more than 4,200 older adults last year. Cowan emphasized the program’s cost‑effectiveness for taxpayers: he contrasted a cited in‑home cost (about $384 per month) with an advertised Medicaid nursing‑home cost of “more than $6,000 a month.”
“Ninety percent of the program’s funding comes from Butler County’s senior services tax levy,” Cowan said, and he reminded council members that the current levy will expire at the end of 2025 and must be reauthorized by voters for ESP to continue at current levels.
Cowan also described operational improvements — such as fast‑track services after hospital discharge and an app‑enabled model that allows clients to hire caregivers directly — that administrators say have increased efficiency and reach.
Council members thanked the presenters. Staff and trustees highlighted the importance of public awareness about the levy’s timeline so voters can consider renewal options before expiration.
Next steps: Cowan invited council to review the program’s annual report and indicated staff would be available to answer follow‑up questions about eligibility, co‑payments and specific service metrics. Council did not take any immediate fiscal action at the meeting.
