Fayette Seniors Rally To Oppose State Budget Cuts
|
2/10/10 Members of the Fayette Senior Advocacy Council and elder services advocates from all over Georgia rallied at the state capitol on January 28, 2010 to state their opposition to proposed budget cuts to services that help older adults remain healthy and living independently. The Governor’s budgets (amended 2010 and proposed 2011) were formally submitted to the state legislature on Friday, January 15. As expected, both budgets reflect fund reductions in areas critical to the health and welfare of seniors and their families in the community. Under the auspices of Fayette Senior Services, Inc. the
Fayette Senior Advocacy Council serves to further advocate for
the common good and general welfare of Fayette County’s older
adults. Fayette Senior Services (FSS), a non-profit
501(c)(3) organization, provides social services that
promote the emotional, social, and physical well-being of older
adults to improve their quality of life and help them to
maintain their independence. Fayette Senior Services (FSS) is
the designated aging service provider for Fayette County as
contracted by the Atlanta Regional Commission’s Area Agency on
Aging. FSS coordinates and manages the delivery of social
services on behalf of Fayette County government. These services
include Meals On Wheels, Adult Day Referral Service, Information
& Assistance, Transportation, Congregate Meal Program, In-Home
Personal Care/Homemaker Services, Case Management, and Home
Repair. FSS also provides a wide variety of social, educational,
recreational, and fitness programs for active older adults at
its Life Enrichment Center in Fayetteville. Fayette Senior Services has already felt the direct impact of
state’s budget cuts in 2009 when funding for kinship care
(grandparents raising grandchildren) and respite care services
were eliminated. Fayette Senior Services Executive Director,
Debbie Britt says the worst is not over. “The state budget
reductions, coupled with decreased funding from our local
government, have caused some seniors to be placed on waiting
lists to receive one or more of the social services we provide.”
She adds “It’s very likely that the state will cut our funding
even further this year and we’re very concerned about the
financial challenges that our local governments our facing and
how that will impact the services we provide to Fayette County’s
seniors.” Britt adds, “When you consider that Fayette County has
the third fastest growing senior population in metro Atlanta,
it’s no surprise that the demand for social services continues
to grow each month. We’re looking to create innovative solutions
with our local government to better address the diverse needs of
our aging population.” The Fayette Advocacy Council were among hundreds of other
senior advocates from across the state who were at the Capitol
to deliver a simple message to Senators and Representatives –
“Don’t cut funding to programs that help seniors get their basic
needs met or to those that provide respite to family
caregivers.” The Fayette Advocacy Council will continue their
efforts to raise awareness for the needs of older adults by
meeting with state Senators and Representatives during Senior
Week at the Capitol, February 24, 25, and 26. For information
about Senior Week or the Fayette Advocacy Council contact Susan
Landais, FSS Program Manager at slandais@fayss.org. Concerned citizens are also encouraged to contact the Fayette
County Board of Commissioners to address budget considerations
and support for senior services. Currently the county funds less
than 10 percent of the overall cost to provide senior social
services. Citizens are also welcomed to contact Debbie Britt,
Executive Director at dbritt@fayss.org for more information and
facts about Fayette Senior Services (www.FayetteSeniors.org -
770-461-0813). |
