Senior Meal Programs Could Be Cut Due To Insufficient Funding

An Oklahoma City elder law attorney provides assistance to seniors to take advantage of helpful programs as they age. As seniors get older, many require more assistance with  basic activities of daily living. Sometimes, the level of need becomes so great that a senior needs help in his home from a long term care professional or must move into assisted living or a nursing home. In many situations, however, senior meal programs, adult daycare and other community-based programs make it possible for older people to continue living independently and maintaining important connections to their communities.

Parman & Easterday helps seniors explore all the different programs and services for which they may be eligible that can enhance their quality of life or provide them with needed services. We can assist you in understanding eligibility rules for programs like Medicaid and veterans’ benefits, which often provide you with strong support. We also help you explore free or low cost community-based programs that are available without a lengthy application process and meeting stringent criteria.

Unfortunately, some important community based programs are facing funding shortfalls, which could be damaging to seniors. News OK reported recently that senior meal programs in the state of Oklahoma may need to be cut back as a result of insufficient funding.

Funding Shortfall Could Result In Cuts To Senior Meal Programs

According to News OK, the Department of Human Services has announced substantial funding cuts. The result of these cuts is that as many as 277,000 fewer meals will be served to seniors next year. Many fewer meals will be provided because the budget cuts are substantial. The Department of Human Services will cut $1.7 million from the extra funds currently spent on nutrition programs for senior citizens.

The executive director of the South Western Oklahoma Development Authority indicated the Department of Human Services notified the agency about the funding cuts in early July, which prompted the agency to begin exploring what programs and services to cut. The Oklahoma Development Authority is a multi-government association that contracts with different vendors to provide meal service to senior citizens.

While the South Western Oklahoma Development Authority is not yet certain of all the different programs that will be cut back, the funding cuts will have an impact on the agency’s ability to provide meals to older Oklahomans. The director of the South Western Oklahoma Development Authority oversees 18 different vendors who provide meal service to seniors, and she has indicated it is likely meal service will be entirely eliminated from certain locations as a direct result of the drastic cuts to funding.

Under the current system, funds are allocated based on the population of different areas throughout the state of Oklahoma. As a result, locations which are more sparsely populated receive less funding. Now that there will be much less money going towards meal services in senior nutrition programs, some of the sparser populated areas may experience even more drastic cuts because of the reduction in even this meager funding. Seniors in these less populated areas, who typically have few other community resources to draw from, will be hit hardest by these cuts to senior meal programs. Exploring other programs to get necessary help will be vital.

Getting Help From An Oklahoma City Elder Law Attorney

An Oklahoma City elder law attorney at Parman & Easterday can provide the help you need as a senior to identify all the different benefits for which you could be eligible to help you live independently, maintain the highest quality of life, or have your nursing home care or long-term care covered when you need it.

To find out more about the ways in which our firm can assist you as you get older, join us for a free seminar. You can also give us a call today at (405) 843-6100 or (913) 385-9400 or contact us online to get personalized advice on qualifying for the programs that could help you. Call today to get started.