UCDD’s Area Agency on Aging and Disability developing a plan to address the unmet needs of the region’s senior citizens.
Area Agency on Aging and Disability Director Holly Williams said the agency has identified some of the top unmet needs: evidence-based programs, family caregiver support services, financial insecurity, housing and home repair, nutrition services, transportation, supportive services, and senior centers. Williams said the plan is essential in obtaining funding for the programs that the agency offers to try and meet those needs.
“When it comes time to request funding at the state and federal level then we can go back and our state office can go back on this data and say this is the information that’s out there that proves these are unmet needs,” Williams said.
Williams said there is not enough financial support or enough resources for the programs to fully meet the needs in the Upper Cumberland. Williams said with a growing older adult population in the Upper Cumberland addressing the issues are becoming more difficult.
“There’s been a waiting list for years so this is not anything new,” Williams said. “However, we do know that with the continued increase of the populations we are serving, that if there is not additional funding those waiting lists are going to drastically increase even more.”
UCDD Executive Director Mark Farley said the state has formed a Department of Disability and Aging. Farley said with this move he believes the state is starting to put more attention on the unmet needs of the older population.
“Obviously the Upper Cumberland is an aging area,” Farley said. “We are aging far faster than a lot of other areas of the state, so you have such a larger population which hopefully in the long run means more services and more ability to help this demographic.”
Williams said after submitting the plan to the state the agency will wait to see how much grant funding will be allocated and directions on how to go about addressing the needs. Williams said she expects to hear back form the state several months form now.
