Narrative of Resolution:
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Urging Local Federal and State Government Representatives to advocate for increased funding levels for older adults
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RESOLUTION INTRODUCED BY EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE URGING LOCAL FEDERAL AND STATE GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVES TO ADVOCATE FOR INCREASED FUNDING LEVELS FOR OLDER ADULTS IN THE FEDERAL AND STATE BUDGETS TO ALLOCATE TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT TO ALLOW AREA AGENCIES ON AGING TO PROVIDE CRITICAL SERVICES TO OLDER ADULTS SO THEY MAY AGE SAFELY IN PLACE
WHEREAS, The Older Americans Act enacted in 1965, provided regulatory parameters and services to assist older individuals and their caregivers and New York State is home to 4.8 million Older New Yorkers and is currently fourth in the nation for the over 60 population, and
WHEREAS, over the course of the past 58 years, Area Agencies on Aging have provided valuable services and support such as: home delivered meals, home care services, transportation, legal services, home modifications, evidence-based interventions, case management, information and assistance, social adult day services, respite, health promotion and wellness, health insurance information and assistance, elder abuse prevention and mitigation, senior center programing, volunteer opportunities, ancillary services, and operate the NY Connects No Wrong Door infrastructure, and
WHEREAS, although these services are mandated by Federal and State regulations in order to accept Older Americans Act Funding, the burden of the cost of these services is heavily dependent on local government funding and Federal and State contributions to Older New Yorkers have not kept pace with the growing needs of the population, and
WHEREAS, Older New Yorkers comprise 43% of the national GDP, and the current budget from New York State Office for the Aging is less than 1% over the State Budget and Older New Yorkers provide social, economic, and intellectual capital and provide over 495 million hours of volunteer services at an economic value of 13.8 billion per year and unpaid caregivers provide uncompensated care worth over 32 Billion dollars per year, and
WHEREAS, Sullivan County is home to over 21,000 individuals over the age of 60 and over 15% are living in poverty or just above poverty levels and are struggling to afford food, medications, home
heating fuel, rent, mortgages, and utilities due to the high cost of inflation while living on extremely limited incomes.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Sullivan County Legislature urge local Federal and State Government Representatives to advocate for increased funding levels for older adults in the Federal and State budgets to allocate to local government to allow local Area Agencies on Aging to provide critical services to older adults so they may age safely in place.
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