Funding Cuts Hit Services for the Elderly

By Christine Legere, The Boston Globe

June 11, 2009

Shrinking state aid and decreases in local revenue have forced many officials south of Boston to focus their dwindling coffers on municipal services classified as "essential" under state law, with public safety and schools making the cut.

But senior services in a number of communities are losing because they fall in the "non-essential" category - even though many elderly depend on them.

Such is the case in Holbrook, Bridgewater, and Stoughton, where available funds for the upcoming year have been rerouted to support other services.

Holbrook's Council on Aging budget was cut from $64,000 to $38,437 by annual Town Meeting last month, at the recommendation of the town's Finance Committee. Just last June, local voters approved a $62,000 tax-limit override to sustain services provided by the Council on Aging. Although that increase remains permanently on the town's tax rate, the override money does not automatically continue to be dedicated to the budget for which it was initially voted.

Constance Orlando, Council on Aging director, said the result of the budget cut will be a drastic reduction in programming, the senior center's hours of operation, and its van service. Those cuts will affect many, she said.

"We serve over 200 people a week, and that's not counting telephone calls," Orlando said.

Michael Yunits, Holbrook town administrator, said the Finance Committee had made the recommendation for reductions in an effort to preserve essential services. 

"Their hope was volunteers could save the van service, but I'm not sure about the liability involved in that," Yunits said.

He said selectmen are not in favor of the dramatic cut to senior services and may ask for some reconsideration when Town Meeting reconvenes on June 24. If the decision is not reversed, it will be a lean year for local services for the elderly.

In Bridgewater, Lorraine Carrozza, director of elder affairs, has been battling to keep at least a minimal level of services for local seniors the last two years. "I consider councils on aging and elder services pretty much of a lifeline," she said.

Carrozza's budget, in its heyday, was more than $140,000. But that has steadily declined.

"As it stands now, we'll get $35,000 for next year," she said. "We've always thought outside the box and been very creative, but we do need some commitment from the town. We have a moral obligation to provide for our seniors. They supported this community for years."

Bridgewater's senior center will lose several positions, including the assistant director, the site manager for nutrition, and kitchen aide. That means no meals on wheels or group meals on weekdays, once the fiscal year begins.

"I have no idea how many hours we can remain open, but I'll be spending most of my time just answering phones and doing administrative work," Carrozza said.

In Stoughton, Town Meeting recently approved a merger of the senior and youth services departments, eliminating the Council on Aging director's position. The youth services director will now manage both departments, which is not a desirable outcome, said Christine Quinn, the Council on Aging director.

"In my opinion, this is the opposite of what should be happening," said Quinn. "It's very short-sighted."

The trend these days, Quinn said, is to allow seniors to stay in their homes by providing them with the support services. Councils on aging help families make the necessary arrangements.

About 50 seniors attended Town Meeting and signed up to speak against the merger. But they did not get to address Town Meeting representatives, even though they followed procedure by signing in ahead of time.

"Although I have a very high regard for the youth director, I don't think the position of Council on Aging director should be gotten rid of," Richard Levine, a former Stoughton selectman, said later in an interview. "I think, in the long run, this just doesn't make sense."

Mark Stankiewicz, Stoughton town administrator, defended the merger, which he had recommended.

"What we accomplished in a tight budget year was to get rid of the $24,000 rent for the youth services office and the Council on Aging director's $70,000 salary," he said. "And we didn't cut any programs. Unfortunately, when you only have so much money, something has to give. Our only other option would be to keep the director and cut the programs."

Ruthann Dobek, a board member of the Massachusetts Councils on Aging Association, called the cuts being made to senior services across the state "disastrous" and "foolhardy."

"When cities and towns are saving $60,000 by closing down a department that serves hundreds of elders, you just have to shake your head," Dobek said.

She said while many communities are still finalizing their budgets, the upcoming year is looking grim for senior services. "It's definitely the worst year we've seen in 25 years," she said.

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