Protecting the Services our Seniors Need

Statement

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By Senator Jay Rockefeller

Senior centers here in West Virginia and across the country provide absolutely crucial services for our older citizens. I recently visited the Tucker County Senior Center, and witnessed again first-hand how instrumental they are in helping seniors live their golden years with as much independence and dignity as possible. But vital funding for our centers is currently at risk due to misguided budget cuts recently proposed by the Administration.

These centers receive federal funding primarily from the Older Americans Act, which Congress reauthorized last year for five years with my full support. The Older Americans Act was first enacted in 1965, and created the main mechanism for managing and providing community-based services for older Americans and their families.

This year, President Bush's budget requests $1.3 billion in senior funding - which is $28 million less than senior funding provided last year. This drastic cut would seriously hamper funding for vital senior citizen services.

A true tragedy for one of the most important programs under the Older Americans Act, Bush's budget request includes a $4 million cut in the senior nutrition program. Additionally, it would eliminate the $12 million in funding for Alzheimer's Demonstration Grants, which are awarded to states to expand services for people with Alzheimer's, their families and their caregivers - as well as to improve home- and community-based care systems.

When we reauthorized the Older Americans Act last year, we continued all of the existing programs, but we also added emphasis to community-based, longer-term care to help our seniors avoid placement in nursing homes. Any major cuts like the President is proposing, coupled with already-increasing gas prices, will be truly detrimental to the programs our seniors rely on to live more independently.

Transportation services are particularly important to seniors in rural areas, which don't have public transportation. Seniors often rely on their local center's vans for transportation to meals at the center and essential doctor's appointments - but the funding does not go up when gas prices and maintenance costs increase.

Additionally, centers provide in-home care to thousands of seniors across West Virginia. Workers commute to seniors' homes to help with chores and tasks that enable them to stay in their own homes. But because of rising costs, some centers are force to cut back on meals or services, and this is just wrong.

So many seniors are active in their communities, but many are truly at risk of losing this independence. Senior centers not only open their doors, but they also reach outward - bringing food to seniors' homes through programs like Meals-on-Wheels, providing in-home care, and giving rides to doctor appointments and the grocery store.

Congress needs to restore the funding our seniors need to lead the quality of life they deserve. They are relying on us to support them. And I will continue doing all I can to fight these cuts and make sure Congress knows that senior services are a necessity, and should be our priority.

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