Senior Services can't afford more cuts

Elgin Township residents will vote Tuesday on a referendum which provides funds for services for seniors.

The cost is only $1.04 per month for a house with a market value of $150,000. The money will be used to fund a service system whose mission is to keep seniors well and living at home.

It will fund not only Senior Services Associates, but also other agencies such as the Salvation Army Golden Diners. We ask for your support because we do not have money to meet the need.

The senior population grew by 83 percent from 2005 to 2015 and the 85 plus population by 249 percent. The last time Senior Services Associates received a payment increase for care management was in 2005. State money is unreliable and payment very slow. Money for in home services for non-Medicaid seniors is being cut by 50 percent. Funding to help seniors who suffer from self neglect and mental health issues has been eliminated.

Senior Services has cut the positions of an abuse investigator, a care manager who helps seniors access financial benefits, and a case worker who matches isolated seniors with a volunteer who visits them. This referendum will pay for essential services such as transportation, meals, abuse intervention, in home services, mental health counseling, caregiver support, healthy aging and other senior center programs.

While the question on the ballot also addresses the issue of construction, renovation and repair of a senior center, there are no plans to build a senior center. The money is needed for services.

Bette Schoenholtz

Yorkville

Executive Director

Senior Services Associates