AARP Alabama urges Legislature to reverse cuts to vital Senior Services

On Friday, September 11, the Alabama House passed a General Fund budget that includes a 9% cut to the Alabama Department of Senior Services (ADSS). This deep cut to ADSS will have devastating consequences for Alabama’s seniors and their families. ADSS provides critical services for seniors under the Medicaid waiver program, including meals on wheels, prescription assistance, home health aides, and respite care for caregivers. Without these vital support services, many at-risk seniors will be unable to remain in their homes, where more than 90% would prefer to stay. Instead, many could be forced into institutional care.

Fully funding home and community-based services (HCBS) provided by ADSS is both the right thing to do, and the fiscally prudent thing to do. ADSS estimates the cost of HCBS monthly to be $800 per client served. The loss of these services could force seniors into institutional care costing more than $5,000 per month per client – that's more than SIX TIMES the cost of HCBS, and further straining the state's Medicaid budget. The loss of Federal matching dollars for these programs will deepen the harm to ADSS and seniors.

AARP Alabama strongly urges the Alabama Legislature to reverse these devastating cuts to ADSS. Alabamians believe in taking care of our elders and making sure they have the food and care that they need, in their own homes and communities. Restoring full funding to ADSS is critical to the health and safety of Alabama's seniors.

The Senate takes up the budget debate on Monday, September 14. We urge ALL Alabamians to contact their legislators TODAY and tell them: Restore full funding to the Alabama Department of Senior Services, and STOP the cuts that harm Alabama seniors and their families. The AARP Legislative Hotline will connect you to your Alabama representatives: 1-844-259-9356.