21-05-2025
Senior service providers lobby in IL Capitol for federal funding
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA) — Illinois senior service providers are calling on Congress to keep funding the Older Americans Act.
The Older Americans Act was put in place in 1965 to provide social services to help seniors stay in their homes and out of nursing homes as long as possible. Some programs the law includes are meal delivery, social opportunities and legal services, but the current federal budget proposal puts $53 million of funding in jeopardy.
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While programs like Meals on Wheels also receives local dollars and private donations, officials are worried about the future of the program.
Without funding secured, one Central Illinois service provider said many older Americans will feel the effects as they need services every day.
'We've had home delivered meal participants say if they didn't have that home-delivered meal delivered every day, they wouldn't get proper nutrition, they wouldn't have a full square meal,' said Susan Real, Executive Director for the East Central Illinois Area Agency on Aging. 'And they wouldn't have that opportunity to see someone, come visit, knock on their door, actually check in on them.'
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Officials will be holding a day of action on May 28 to show support for the Older Americans Act with events across the nation. This includes a rally at the LifeSpan Center in Charleston at 2 p.m.
More information on the Day of Action can be found on Illinois Association of Area Agencies on Aging's website.
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