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Policy committee recommends BOCC not renew Day Living Centers contract after finding county-funded program serves 22 people this cycle
Summary
Oklahoma County's Policy & Governance Committee voted March 11 to recommend that the Board of County Commissioners not renew the county contract with Day Living Centers after members expressed concern that only 22 unduplicated county residents were served under the current county-funded program year.
The Policy & Governance Committee of the Oklahoma County Board of County Commissioners on March 11 recommended that the BOCC not renew its adult day services contract with Day Living Centers after members raised concerns about program reach and fiscal impact.
Amanda Dermayer, President of Day Living Centers, told the committee the organization serves about 190 people annually in Oklahoma County but that the county-funded program counted 22 unduplicated participants in the current fiscal cycle. "Currently, we have 22," Dermayer said, and explained the provider's full service offering: "We transport them to and from. They have healthy meals, socialization. We have nurses on staff, certified nursing assistants on staff. We're able to bathe... so they can continue to stay at home instead of having to go to the nursing home." Dermayer said the program's gross daily cost is about $95, the county reimburses $70 per day and $15 per day for transportation, and the center uses additional scholarship funds to avoid turning people away.
Committee members said the county's relatively small participant count for the funds allocated raised questions about impact. One member said, "I can't support 22 people for that amount of money," and several commissioners compared Day Living Centers' local reach to other providers who, they said, serve more clients with comparable funding.
Staff noted a DA opinion had clarified that the county can fund local senior services but that the county would need to adopt or modify resolution language to define who qualifies if it continues supporting such programs. In light of commissioners' questions about the share of program costs covered by grants and whether OSU or other entities retain portions of grant awards, the committee requested additional follow-up information from Day Living Centers and OSU Extension before further action.
The committee voted to recommend the BOCC not renew the Day Living Centers contract. Staff said the county should revisit the structure of senior services and the related senior bid process when additional funding is available.
