Tough times are no time for cuts in senior programs
By State Representative Christopher Speranzo
One of the best parts of my job as the State Representative of the 3rd Berkshire District is when Berkshire County seniors tell me how the state can make their lives better. Together with my colleagues in the legislature, I can help.
This was particularly true this year with funding for Elder Services Meals on Wheels program and the Councils on Aging. Throughout the past year, whether it was in one-on-one conversations with seniors or at Elder Services of Berkshire County’s Legislative Forum, seniors made it clear that Meals on Wheels and our Councils on Aging needed more funding to properly serve our seniors in the way they deserve.
I took these concerns to Boston, and this year I am happy to report that an amendment to the House of Representatives’ annual budget that I co-sponsored increased the funding for the Meals on Wheels program to $6.5 million. The Senate continued this increase and the House and Senate agreed to fund Meals on Wheels to a record $6.8 million. This funding helps ensure that home-delivered meals will be provided to seniors throughout Berkshire County, giving them with an important lifeline to their communities. Last year, Elder Services prepared more than a quarter million meals and the Meals on Wheels drivers traveled over 226,000 miles to deliver more than 200,000 meals to homebound seniors.
By co-sponsoring a separate amendment to the budget, I helped increase funding for the Councils on Aging in the House budget to $8.5 million. Seniors in Berkshire County made it clear that the allocation for Councils on Aging needed to be increased from $6.50 per senior to $7.00 per senior. By passing this amendment the legislature was able to do just that and starting July 1, 2008 that allocation increased to the requested $7.00. There are 348 Councils on Aging in Massachusetts that provide more than 440,000 elders and their families and caregivers with direct services annually. Councils offer information and referral, transportation, outreach, health screening, and fitness recreation programs.
In addition, the legislature provided over $16 million for protective services for seniors. This pays for the investigation of elder abuse and self-neglect, related casework and crisis intervention. The goal of protective services is to remedy or alleviate the abusive situation and to prevent its reoccurrence.
It is not news to anyone that we are going through tough economic times in Massachusetts and across the country. Tough economic times, however, are no excuse not to take care of our seniors, and by passing these increases in vital programs such as Meals on Wheels and the Councils on Aging the legislature has properly prioritized its spending. Thank you for taking the time to read this article. I invite each of you to call me, stop by my office, or stop me in the street to remind me of any problems you may be facing or any concerns you may have.
Christopher Speranzo is State Representative of the 3rd Berkshire District. He can be reached at 447-7225, 1-617-722-2460 or rep.christophersperanzo@hou.state.ma.us.
