Tri-City Consortium on Aging Concerned About Cuts

A 31 percent cut in Title III funds meant the Tri-City Consortium on Aging had to find other ways to pay for its homemaker program this year. Director Stacy O'Brien has been talking to groups and encouraging area seniors to lobby state officials to prevent further cuts.

Tri-City, which serves Mayfield Heights, Highland Heights, Lyndhurst and South Euclid, gets about $65,000 in Title III funds for transportation, congregate meals and social services. The program was established by the Older Americans Act in 1965 and has been scaled back in recent years. O'Brien said funding statewide was $15.9 million in 2001 and is at $5.9 million for 2011.

"Title III money funded nine services in 1990. Now there are three," she said.

On top of direct cuts to Tri-City Consortium on Aging, O'Brien is concerned about a proposed 25 percent cut to the Local Government Fund, which will affect the four cities that are part of the organization.

"I worry about how we will be impacted by the budget on the state level, but also on the local level," she said. "Cities may not have money to support us as they have in the past."

O'Brien said senior citizens can help Tri-City by writing to their legislators and urging support for the Title III program.

"People have between now and June 30 to communicate about what needs to happen in the state," O'Brien said. "Older adults vote more than anyone else. One letter written by a senior has a lot more impact."

She added that it makes sense to put more money into agencies and services that help older people stay in their homes rather than go into a nursing home or assisted-living center.

"Medicaid makes up 30 percent of Ohio's general fund spending," O'Brien said. "We prevent people from going onto Medicaid."

Instead of paying several thousand dollars a month for nursing home care through Medicaid, she said the state should put money into homemaking and shopping services, which can be provided for $150 a month.

"Someone can stay in their home for a cost that is significantly less," O'Brien said.