Trumbull County commissioners are discussing the possibility of reallocating money from senior centers to in-home care services.
Multiple groups that work in senior health care came to the commissioner meeting, sharing their concerns over the proposal.
Diane Jurkovic, Trumbull County Senior levy services administrator, asked commissioners in a workshop meeting to move $125,000 from senior center funds to in-home senior care.
After the proposal was read, emotions erupted in the Trumbull County commissioners meeting.
“So why would you cut the number one program that serves the most senior citizens of all the programs in the county?” said Mike Wilson, director of SCOPE.
Laura Carey, Girard Multi-Generational Center Administrative Director, said multiple seniors she worked with needed senior centers and transportation. Without it, they would be unable to leave their home.
“What we do is important. I’m not saying it’s any more important than what people need in in-home services, but it’s also not any less important,” said Carey.
Senior levy money is split between transportation, senior centers and home health care.
There are 11 senior centers around the county, and around 400 Trumbull seniors are on a waiting list for home care. Jurkovic said the additional funding would help shorten that list.
“We're trying to keep people from going to the nursing home. Because once you go into the nursing home, your assets [are] depleted,” said Jurkovic.
Commissioner Tony Bernard proposed using additional county funds until the commissioners make a decision.
“They have an additional $300,000 of carry over money. So, let’s take that money and let’s fund the centers. They need about $125,000 to fund the centers. Let’s do that, that will give us a year to find out where we are financially,” said Bernard.
In that year, he hopes commissioners can find a way to give more funding to in-home care, without reallocating funds.
“I just don't think it makes sense, when you cut from this area to add to this area. I don't want to cut. I want to expand the senior services and hopefully we can do that,” said Bernard.
Commissioner Denny Malloy feels they should trust the advisory board. He is asking for future conversations with the board before making any decision.
“They’re the ones, they’ve got hours and hours and weeks and days into this and they’re bringing it to us to make a snap decision. We have to trust our advisory boards. And that was something where I said hey, we need to meet with our advisory board, see what they have to say before we make a decision,” said Malloy. “It’s just a difference of everyone on the same team. One wants a running play, one wants a running play, one wants the passing play, we all want to score.”
During the meeting, the county commissioners decided to table the matter.
The commissioners will vote on other matters regarding funding senior care Wednesday, but will not be voting on reallocating the $125,000 from senior centers to in-home care.
There is no set date as to when they will vote on redistributing those funds.