Louisiana State Budget Cuts Loom For New Orleans Council On Aging
NEW ORLEANS – For the present fiscal year (2015-2016), the New Orleans Council on Aging’s supplemental funding for the last quarter has been eliminated. Council reps said this action may result in the immediate closure of some senior centers in Orleans Parish.
Per the Louisiana state budget proposal, beginning July 1, 2016, the New Orleans Council on Aging state operational funding will be reduced by $510,454.00, which is used to supplement the operation of 11 of the 15 senior centers in Orleans Parish. Council reps said Meals on Wheels (MOW) funding will also be reduced resulting in the elimination of services to 25 older adults receiving daily meals. Homemaker and other services may also be cut, depending on funding availability.
These reductions will result in decreased operational funding for senior center services and programs, as well as center closures, Council reps said. For a many of the city’s elderly, the meals they receive at the senior centers and at home are the only hot meal they receive daily, they said.
Council reps said all of their programs provide life sustaining support services for seniors to live and reside in our community and reduction of life sustaining services will result in premature institutionalization, isolation, illness and death.
The New Orleans Council on Aging said their programs are critical to helping older Americans remain healthy, economically secure and independent in their communities.
