DRCOG Area Agency on Aging warns of deep state funding cuts, service reductions and long transportation waits

Denver — The Denver Regional Council of Governments’ Area Agency on Aging (AAA) told the board Wednesday that steep funding cuts from the state have forced programmatic changes, staff reductions and longer waits for critical services.

Jayla, the AAA lead who addressed the board, said the agency — which DRCOG has served as designated Area Agency on Aging for more than 50 years under the Older Americans Act — recorded funding declines of about 20–21% in fiscal 2025. "We've lost $8,000,000 just in DRCOG's area agency on aging in the last 2 years," she told the board, and described the result as dramatic adjustments to continue serving rising demand.

Jayla said the AAA delivered more than 878,000 units of service in the last year despite cuts but that specific programs have contracted: congregate meals and home‑delivered meals declined, contracted transportation provider volumes are down (a reported 38% decrease in contracted transportation service recipients), and assisted transportation usage fell about 36% in recent years. The agency also reduced funding to contracted service providers: providers requested $23,000,000 but the AAA was able to fund $13,000,000 in 2025.

Operational responses included eliminating 10 internal staff positions, ceasing funding to 12 contracted partners, losing a contracted transportation call center, and shifting limited funds toward life‑sustaining services such as transportation to medical appointments, in‑home care, and caregiver respite. Jayla said the AAA has cross‑trained staff, pursued grant opportunities, and restructured caregiver supports to focus on respite where demand is highest.

Jayla linked increased demand to broader health‑system changes. She said Colorado’s Medicaid 'unwind' led to about 700,000 people losing Medicaid coverage and that state fiscal shifts (including a Department of Human Services reduction of about $4.1 million) have increased pressure on local social‑service systems. The result, she said, is longer waiting lists for ongoing transportation needs: "If someone right now calls for transportation... we're gonna put them on a waiting list, and it could take up to 30–304 days to get service," Jayla told the board.

The AAA lead urged the board to continue partnerships with health systems and to prioritize core services. "We are focusing on quality services for those most in need," she said, listing information assistance, transportation and nutrition, in‑home services, and family caregiver supports as priorities. She also asked that the legislature consider aging services when making cuts.

Why this matters: The AAA provides federally mandated services under the Older Americans Act to older residents across the Denver metropolitan area. Funding reductions that force provider cuts and staff eliminations can increase wait times for essential services such as transportation to dialysis and in‑home care, with measurable effects on vulnerable residents.

What’s next: Jayla said the AAA will continue cross‑training, pursue grants and finalize new transportation call‑center arrangements (a new call center is expected to go live in March), and will keep the board informed as negotiations and partnerships progress.