Bill hikes funding for community senior centers, programs

STATE HOUSE – Rhode Island Statewide Planning population projections estimate that the number of older persons in Rhode Island will increase by 46 percent between now and 2025.

“It is in the state’s best interest, and that of our elderly population, that we promote and support local programs providing services to senior citizens, such as community senior centers,” said Rep. K. Joseph Shekarchi (D-Dist. 23, Warwick). “These agencies provide outstanding services to our seniors, running meals programs, providing nutritional and health information, and generally helping older Rhode Islanders remain self-sufficient and able to stay in their own homes in their own communities.”

Unfortunately, said Representative Shekarchi, state budget cuts during the past few years have slashed funding for the grants that are distributed to these community senior centers by the Division of Elderly Affairs. In fiscal year 2006, more than $900,000 was appropriated for the community senior services grants. By FY2014, that figured had been cut to about $364,000.

Representative Shekarchi has introduced legislation, 2014-H 7236, to establish a program of basic community senior services grants to equitably fund community senior centers and other local programs, based on the municipality’s population of non-institutionalized persons 65 and older. The funding would begin at $5 per senior and gradually increasing to $10 per senior by 2020. The formula replaces the current method of distribution of grants, which are basically historically allocated amounts not tied to numbers of older persons in the communities.

If approved, the budget appropriation for the grant program this year would increase by about $400,000, more than doubling the figure contained in the current budget.

“The community senior service grant program provides financial assistance and incentives to local governments and other nonprofit agencies that help our state’s older residents to age in their communities,” said Representative Shekarchi. “From outreach to social services, from health promotion and physical fitness to life-long learning programs, transportation and caregiver support services, these programs are essential to the well-being of our aging population.”

As proposed in the Shekarchi bill, if a municipality does not directly operate a local senior center or program, funds would be awarded, in consultation with municipal officials, to nonprofit community agencies operating senior programs. The legislation includes a hold harmless provision so that no municipality would receive less funding than it received in FY2014.

Under the formula, several communities, such as Providence, Cranston, Warwick, Pawtucket and Bristol, would actually receive additional funding.

To be eligible to participate in the funding formula program, municipalities or nonprofits would need to provide an equal amount of funds or in-kind resources for the programs; submit plans for how the funds would be used and how the local share would be met; demonstrate the existence of a local senior advisory committee, and show how the spending plan related to the State Plan on Aging and local planning for senior services.

Maureen Maigret, former director of the Division of Elderly Affairs and currently the policy consultant to the Senior Agenda Coalition, commended legislators promoting the bill “for their commitment to address the needs of our senior citizens. At a time when our older population is growing so rapidly, community programs that help them maintain their independence are more important than ever. For a modest cost, this bill provides for a fair and dependable source of funds.”

In praising the legislation, Maigret said funding these programs is especially important to older women in the state, who make up a majority of the over-65 population and will account for about 7 of 10 Rhode Island senior citizens over the age of 80.

The Shekarchi legislation has been referred to the House Committee on Finance. The bill has about two dozen co-sponsors, including Rep. Mia A. Ackerman (D-Dist. 45, Cumberland, Lincoln), Rep. Elaine A. Coderre (D-Dist. 60, Pawtucket), Rep. Eileen S. Naughton (D-Dist. 21, Warwick) and Rep. Anastasia P. Williams (D-Dist. 9, Providence).

Similar legislation has been introduced in the Senate by Sen. Louis P. DiPalma (D-Dist. 12, Middletown, Little Compton, Newport, Tiverton). That bill, 2014-S 2194, is currently before the Senate Committee on Finance.