Advocacy
Get Loud to Help Older Adults!
By Maddy Bynes , PCOA Director of Public Policy & Special Projects Since January, the Arizona State Legislature has been in session debating issues impacting everyday Arizonans like you and me. This year the legislature has two very important policies to consider to help older adults remain independent in their own homes and communities. Last year, the Arizona Area Agencies on Aging, including PCOA, were incredibly grateful to receive an increase of $3.5 million for our Long- Term Care Ombudsman Program and our home and community-based services. Over the past several years, PCOA and other organizations like ours have struggled to keep up with increasing demand for home and community-based services, like bathing or bed linen changing. Last year aside, over the past decade, the Area Agencies on Aging have had relatively minor increases of funding. The University of Arizona estimates that the population of people 65 and older in Arizona grew by 48.4% between 2010 and 2019, while the total population grew by only 13.9%. In the same time period, wages have increased by over 35% and costs of doing business have increased. With little new funding until last year, this had been a challenge for PCOA and our counterparts throughout the state.
It’s far too often that we see an older adult who has recently paid off their mortgage not realizing they needed to pay property tax. With many older adults simply living on Social Security benefits, it is difficult to then pay the cash total to ensure your home does not get foreclosed on. That’s where the Elderly Assistance Fund comes into play. Under this new legislation, the Area Agencies on Aging would assist qualifying older adults who are behind pay a portion of their property tax to keep their homes. This program hasn’t existed in Pima County and won’t unless our legislators hear from you! Help us advocate for continued funding for home and community-based services and the new Elderly Assistance Fund program. Your voice and help over the past few years have been so effective at getting our elected officials to recognize the needs of older people in our communities. Visit advocate.pcoa.org to find out how you can take action today!
That’s why we need to ensure that there are no cuts to the Area Agencies on Aging this year. We need to ensure that we can continue to provide high quality care work to those in need. Last year, as part of the $3.5 million of increased appropriation, $1.5 million was one-time funding applied to increasing provider rates. Unfortunately, Governor Ducey eliminated this funding in his FY 2023 budget proposal and we need YOUR help to urge our legislators to add it back in. Without this continued funding, Area Agencies on Aging across the state will be faced with the devastating options of reducing service hours to those receiving service currently, or removing people from service. Another issue we are working on is securing $7 million for the Elderly Assistance Fund. The Elderly Assistance Fund is a fund that helps low-income homeowners pay off back property tax to ensure they are able to keep their home.
March 2022, Never Too Late | Page 27
Pima Council on Aging
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