Unless the PA legislature and the governor correct a severe omission in the recently passed Pennsylvania budget, older adults in Pike County will be denied essential services such as home-delivered meals, assistance with personal care and the operation of senior community centers.

Pennsylvania’s Area Agencies on Aging administer these services. However, because the legislature did not transfer $15.2 million from PA Lottery profits (a 5 percent increase from last year) as requested by the Pennsylvania Department of Aging, Pike County will face a budget deficit of approximately $91,274.85.

This deficit is 2.5 percent of our budget. We are adjusting our anticipated expenditures to determine which services we will have to create waiting lists for and which services we will have to reduce or eliminate—such as community centers, home-delivered meals, transportation and home care aides, as our older adult population continues to grow.

State representatives and senators can reverse the path of cutting these services by passing a supplemental budget bill this September to transfer $15.2 million from the Lottery Fund to the Department of Aging.

On behalf of all older adults and their families, we urge our legislators to introduce, pass, and send this critical supplemental appropriation to the governor as soon as possible.

Submitted by the Pike County Area on Aging
Robin Soares, executive director
Milford, PA