The increase in funding that is coming with the re-authorization of the Older Americans Act will be a boon for local communities that are struggling to serve their senior citizens.

“We’ve been running this program on a shoestring,” Executive Director Harold Monroe said of the aging services provided by the Pennyrile Allied Community Services in the region.

President Donald Trump signed the Supporting Our Older Americans Act of 2020 into law on Wednesday, reauthorizing the Older Americans Act of 1965 that was the first effort on a national level to provide comprehensive services for senior citizens in the United States.

Congressman James Comer was a lead Republican sponsor of the 2020 bill, which includes increases in funding that Monroe described as a really critical piece of the new legislation.

Under the parameters of the bill, services for senior services will see a 7% increase in funding in the first year, and 6% for each of the next four years. This bill is in force through 2024.

“When you look at the percentages (of people) retiring, it’s still not enough but it does help,” said Monroe, who noted that the bill will provide better nutrition, prevent abuse and neglect of senior citizens, provide improved transportation and offer support for caregivers.

All of this, in turn, helps senior citizens stay in their homes for as long as possible, the original intent of the Older Americans Act and the less expensive alternative when helping seniors.

“That’s what the entire Older Americans Act in 1965 was for,” Monroe said.

“And with this re-authorization, they are extending these services,” he said. “From where we sit, the fact that there is going to be some additional funding, it really helps because we’ve not had any increased funding for years.”

Monroe said his agency hasn’t been seeing much impact from COVID-19.

Since the region’s senior centers are closed, meals are being provided “pretty much” to anyone who asks for them, according to Monroe. He noted that any senior wanting a meal delivered should call the Pennyrile Area Development District to be put on that list.

Because of the virus, anyone wanting that service is able to get it right now, he said.

Monroe added that socialization efforts like playing cards or pool has become a challenge in the midst of the virus, and there’s been a decrease in demand for homemaking services.

People don’t want staff in their homes because they are afraid of catching something.

Monroe also noted that the agency has curtailed its transportation services.

With mandates limiting the numbers of people in a vehicle, there aren’t enough drivers to go around. The agency has been taking dialysis patients one at a time to their treatments.

Once the COVID-19 pandemic has subsided, he predicts a lot of need.

“We’re doing the best we can with what we’re allowed to do at this point,” he said.

Jill Collins, director of the Pennyrile Area Agency on Aging and Independent Living, noted that the re-authorization of the Older Americans Act has nothing specific to do with COVID-19, but because of the crisis situation, more funding is available to help seniors get meals at home.

She said the state has been given $3 million to expand services during the COVID-19 crisis that “will be focused on home delivered meals and getting food out to older adults,” she said.

Those additional funds will help expand current services through the Older Americans Act.

That initial act created a way to give money to states which support programs to help older Americans stay in their homes. Funds go to state units on aging, in Kentucky the Department for Aging and Independent Living, which use a formula to allocate those funds to agencies.

Locally, each Area Agency on Aging has sub-contracted service providers, according to Collins, who noted that the service provider for the Pennyrile district is the PACS office.

“Most Americans want to be able to age in their homes and receive services in their homes,” Collins said, noting that those essential services benefit the well-being of older Americans.

She likes the 2020 act’s continued provision to have those services, especially the meals, and she likes the focus on grandparents as caregivers through the National Caregiver Program.

She said it might allow the local agency to serve more grandparents.

Collins noted that an open cap included as part of the 2020 re-authorization is also a positive move that will allow further services for the region’s senior citizens to be expanded.

She said the district will receive the funds in May or June for the 2021 fiscal year.

Comer said he was glad to work on a bill that provides for the elderly population.

The congressman noted that every time he has a town hall meeting at least one senior citizen will remind him that seniors are on a fixed income.

“This bill is 100% focused on senior citizens,” he said. “It’s focused on senior citizens and recognizes the fact that most are on restricted incomes.”