Taking the opportunity to have their voices heard, members of the county’s Commission on Aging and HomePorts expressed their concern over recent cuts in funding for the Kent County Medical Adult Day Care, run by the county health department.
The groups were at Tuesday’s commissioners’ meeting to receive a proclamation declaring the week of Oct. 10 – 16 National Aging in Place Week.
According to the health department’s website, the adult day care is a “community-based day program licensed by the State of Maryland for health impaired adults.”
Reading from a prepared statement from Commission President Margie Baker, commission member Bill Blake, said that long term employees at the adult day care are being laid off effective Nov. 1 and replaced by part time contractors. The change in staffing is not only stressful for patrons, but their caregivers as well.
The Commission on Aging understands that the cuts aren’t at the local level, Blake said, but they are asking the commissioners to be vigilant. “We are concerned the facility may close,” he said.
Muriel Cole, commission member and president of HomePorts, said she understood that the loss of $40,000 in state funds was a combination of cuts and a loss of grants.
“We don’t know how much impact you have on state funding … but we wanted to know in heart and in theory that you are with us,” Blake said.
Commissioner Ron Fithian said the county has no impact on state funding and at the county level “we try to hold funding for these types of services level, but when the state cuts funding we’re asked to pick up the slack and we can’t always do that.”
Commissioner Alex Rasin assured the Commission on Aging and HomePorts that the commissioners stand with them.
The commissioners suggested the group speak to the District 36 delegation; state Sen. E.J. Pipkin; and the Maryland Department of Aging.
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