Board adopts targeted senior-services plan to reduce wait lists and expand care

The human services committee evaluated seven options for directing senior-services millage dollars. Staff presented proposals that ranged from a flat 5% increase across senior centers and providers to targeted approaches prioritizing wait-list reduction, in-house intake and case management, and a potential social-worker placement.

After questions about fund balance and provider capacity, commissioners substituted and passed Proposal 6, which provides a 3.5% inflationary increase to senior centers and allocates targeted funding to reduce service provider wait lists (in-home care, meals and transportation). Senior-services staff said that they had already engaged prospective providers and would be able to begin reducing wait lists October 1 should the funding be approved.

"We've already had meetings... My staff has had meetings with all of 4 of these service providers to already have numbers in place to know that moving forward October 1, we can immediately start making an impact on this wait list," senior-services staff said.

Why it matters: County officials described long-standing wait lists for in-home services and transportation; the chosen proposal aims to expand capacity while keeping fund balance within a tolerable range and using RFPs to bring in additional providers where needed.

What comes next: Staff will prepare resolutions and RFPs tied to the funding plan, report on capacity and start implementation steps; commissioners asked for oversight measures and monthly reporting.