Urgent Call to Action – Funding for Senior Programs in Danger!
Just two days ago, we learned that the Department of Human Services (DHS) has capped the total request amount at $30,000 annually for the Live Well at Home Grant. As you may know, many of the 34 Living At Home Block Nurse Programs and 15 Faith in Action programs receive funding capped at the amount of $50,000. This allowed programs to meet the needs of our growing seniors population who require services to remain in their home safely and avoid early nursing home placement.
We have been encouraged to contact our state elected officials and ask them to contact DHS to urge them to reinstate the Core Home and Community Based Services funding at the $50,000 limit. We urge them to increase the total amount in Aging Grants designated amount Core home and Community Based Services from $3,000,000 per biennium to $4,000,000 per biennium. This can be done by shifting funds from the general Long-Term Services and Supports Development grants that are also part of the Aging Grants.
This is a time to work together to keep funding for senior programs safe, if legislators hear from 10 constituents they are likely to advocate for our program funding with DHS. Below are talking points to help deliver a clear message to DHS from state officials.
Who to Contact:
House Public Information Services – Call House Information for assistance with finding your representative and senator.
Phone: (651) 296-2146 or 1 (800) 657-3550
TTY: (800) 627-3529
Senate Information Office – Call Senate Information for help in identifying your representative and senator.
Phone: (651) 296-0504 or (651) 296-2887
Talking Points:
The Living at Home Network is comprised of 34 programs throughout the state Minnesota. Faith in Action programs serve an additional 15 communities. Each program is locally governed and successfully supports seniors to remain in their home safely and avoid early nursing home placement through professional and volunteer care and providing unduplicated services.
The 2016 FY Live Well at Home RFP allowed programs to request up to $50,000 per year. Many of the programs received the full amount and subsequently added or expanded staff to better meet the growing population of elders in their service area.
We request DHS restore annual maximum for the Core Home and Community Based Services (Living At Home/Block Nurse Programs and Faith in Action) grants to $50,000 per year.
In 2015, local programs were awarded Live Well at Home grants and were assured at the time of the contract signing, that programs that meet all requirements would be able to renew contracts for another two-years and forgo the grant application. We ask DHS to honor their word and renew contracts with the Living at Home and Faith In Action Programs that met all grant obligations.
Communities throughout Minnesota are in need of these cost-saving programs. An increase the total amount in Aging Grants designated amount Core home and Community Based Services from $3,000,000 per biennium to $4,000,000 per biennium, would help ensure that current and future programs are sustainable. This can be done by shifting funds from the general Long-Term Services and Supports Development grants that are also part of the Aging Grants.
Living at Home/ Block Nurse and Faith In Action programs provide an essential network of direct service from volunteer care, chore support, transportation and service coordination to high risk seniors. We request that expanded funding be made available to community programs that provide the informal supports that help seniors to remain in their home safely. Now is the time to expand funding not limit funding.
Please share this message with your friends, family, and neighbors so that together we can stop this harmful funding cut! You can link to this post on Facebook, Twitter, or any other outlet. Feel free to quote any of the text used in this post – thank you for your help in keeping funding for senior programs safe!