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Mill Valley proclaims May 'Older Americans Month'; county commission warns federal cuts could hit local services
Summary
The City of Mill Valley recognized May 2025 as Older Americans Month and heard from Christie Denton Cohen of the Marin County Commission on Aging, who warned that proposed federal changes to the Older Americans Act could fragment funding and threaten services such as ombudsman investigations, meal programs and caregiver support.
The Mill Valley City Council on a May meeting issued a proclamation declaring May 2025 as Older Americans Month and invited Christie Denton Cohen, chair of the Marin County Commission on Aging and a Mill Valley commissioner, to brief the council on local aging initiatives.
Cohen said the commission’s Live Well Mill Valley work includes a recent survey of more than 400 residents and upcoming listening sessions. She described a May 20 forum at the College of Marin’s Indian Valley campus titled “The Power of Connection, Creating, Building and Sustaining Community as We Age,” aimed at addressing social isolation and supports for older residents.
Cohen warned the council about prospective federal changes to the Older Americans Act, including a proposed split of the program across multiple federal agencies. She said that could “severely impact” local programs funded by the act, singling out risks to ombudsman work that investigates neglect and abuse in long‑term care facilities, falls‑prevention programs, and Meals on Wheels–style congregate and home‑delivered meal programs. "One third of older adults in Marin are isolated or lonely," she told the council, and federal changes could reduce the Marin ombudsman program by more than 25%.
Council members thanked Cohen and discussed local next steps. Several suggested the city consider state or county advocacy to offset potential federal reductions and proposed that the city explore targeted budget or legislative requests to fill gaps if federal funds are reduced. Cohen encouraged residents and governing bodies to contact congressional representatives to express concerns about program fragmentation.
The presentation concluded with council agreement to stay engaged; staff said they would follow up with additional materials and coordinate with county partners on possible advocacy and local planning.
The council’s proclamation and Cohen’s briefing concluded with an invitation for residents to attend the May 20 forum and future listening sessions tied to the Live Well Mill Valley initiative.
