AgingCT

Legislative & Advocacy

The Grinch in America: How the Shutdown Stole Seniors’ Snacks & Safety Nets

’Twas the holiday season, and all through the land,
Older adults waited and waited for their main helping hand.
But in Washington, budget bills took a deep, dangerous dive,
And the funds that sustain care? They were barely alive.

As Congress remained in a stalemate throughout the longest government shutdown in our nation’s history, millions of older adults, individuals with disabilities, and caregivers across the country found themselves caught in the crossfire. 

This year, the Grinch wasn’t just lurking in Whoville—he was sitting in the halls of Washington, trimming away at the programs that keep America’s vulnerable populations healthy, housed, and fed. 

For many, Medicaid is not a luxury; it’s the difference between managing chronic illness and going without essential care. Reductions in Medicaid reimbursements threaten access to doctors, home health, and prescription medications, especially in rural areas where providers already struggle to stay afloat.

Meanwhile, cuts to nutrition programs, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), strike at the heart of economic and food security for older adults and individuals with disabilities, leaving them to choose between food and medicine, a grim reality during the holiday season when costs rise and energy bills climb. Nearly 9 million older adults rely on SNAP to afford groceries. 

While key entitlements like Medicaid remained funded, the safety-net programs that rally around older adults and individuals with disabilities were squeezed hard.

During the shutdown, benefit reductions took food off their tables as the Grinch snuck past the breakfast table and pulled the chairs out from under seniors who expected their SNAP benefits. He tiptoed past the home-care aide and snatched the check that was supposed to keep them paid. Food banks counted their meals as the lines of cars and clients grew weekly. Federal staff furloughs stalled program reimbursements and delayed contracts. Local agencies and advocates scrambled to preserve services and clients…and continue to do so.

The irony is hard to miss. As communities prepare for the holidays—a time of generosity and gratitude—the very programs designed to protect vulnerable Americans continue to be squeezed. For the five Area Agencies on Aging, AgingCT, and other advocates on the frontlines, this is more than a policy debate. It’s a fight for dignity and survival. 

While there is relief that the government is again open for business, what lingers is the reality that nearly 43 days of congressional impasse hurt the people least able to weather it, and fueled deep-seated fear and uncertainty for millions of Americans that will not fade.

Let’s hope this moment of awakening comes with a lesson for lawmakers that any inability to communicate and negotiate effectively brings true pain and suffering to their constituents. Unlike Whoville’s fictional holiday, the lives affected here are very real.

This season, advocacy matters more than ever. Let’s keep reminding our elected officials that compassion isn’t seasonal, it’s essential.

Stories From The Field

The Warm Welcome of a Service Navigator

Bob is an 86-year-old man who lives alone and has limited natural supports. He met with an Area Agency on Aging Service Navigator, who identified that Bob would benefit from in-home assistance due to difficulty completing personal care and household tasks. Additionally, his limited support system and inability to leave his home independently had resulted in significant social isolation.

During a home visit, the Service Navigator observed that the temperature in Bob’s home was unusually low. Bob disclosed that he had run out of heating oil and therefore had no heat or hot water. The Service Navigator immediately contacted the Milford Senior Center to report his situation and collaborated with both the Milford Senior Center and TEAM, Inc., a private, not-for-profit human services agency serving several towns in New Haven and Fairfield Counties, to arrange for an oil delivery by the first of the upcoming month.

The Service Navigator verified with TEAM, Inc. that home-delivered meals were already in place and submitted a referral to the Connecticut Home Care Program for Elders (CHCPE). Participation in this program will help address Bob’s ongoing needs by providing in-home care services, social support, and continued access to meal delivery. The Service Navigator is continuing to work with Bob to assist with the enrollment process for CHCPE.Life-altering assistance like Bob received is just a phone call away. For more information about Service Navigators, contact an Area Agency on Aging through the AgingCT website.

Legislative & Advocacy

Service Navigator Funding Secured in Connecticut—OAA Reauthorization Still Pending

The Older Americans Act (OAA), the foundation of aging services across the nation, has not yet been reauthorized by Congress. While reauthorization legislation has been introduced and debated, final passage has not ocIn Connecticut, more than $18 million in OAA funding annually supports core services such as Meals on Wheels, legal assistance, caregiver support, transportation, elder rights advocacy, and more. These services are delivered through the state’s five Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs). Without reauthorization, funding levels remain uncertain, creating challenges for long-term planning and expansion in underserved areas. Advocacy remains focused on protecting the Administration for Community Living’s oversight role, strengthening caregiver supports, and preserving states’ flexibility in delivering services.

In Connecticut, more than $18 million in OAA funding annually supports core services such as Meals on Wheels, legal assistance, caregiver support, transportation, elder rights advocacy, and more. These services are delivered through the state’s five Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs). Without reauthorization, funding levels remain uncertain, creating challenges for long-term planning and expansion in underserved areas. Advocacy remains focused on protecting the Administration for Community Living’s oversight role, strengthening caregiver supports, and preserving states’ flexibility in delivering services.

For Connecticut’s growing aging population, timely reauthorization of the OAA is critical. Stability of this legislation directly impacts the dignity, independence, and quality of life of thousands of older residents.

AgingCT Thanks Connecticut Legislators for Championing Service Navigator Funding

Amid federal uncertainty, Connecticut demonstrated its commitment to the aging and disability community by securing funding for Service Navigator positions in the FY2025 state budget.

This investment is making a tangible impact in the lives of thousands of older adults, individuals with disabilities, and caregivers. Service Navigators provide one-on-one assistance to residents facing urgent needs related to housing, transportation, food security, long-term care, and access to benefits. Their work is not only informative; it is transformative.

Thanks to this funding, each AAA was able to hire a dedicated Service Navigator who has:

• Helped prevent homelessness through housing support and mediation.
• Connected individuals to food, fuel, and transportation services.
• Facilitated enrollment in SNAP, MSP, and CHOICES Medicare counseling.
• Supported caregivers in accessing respite and community resources.
• Strengthened partnerships with municipalities, healthcare providers, and local organizations.

This initiative has improved care coordination and reduced disparities—particularly in underserved and rural regions—and would not have been possible without the leadership of several key legislators:

• Senator Jan Hochadel (D-13) and Representative Jane Garibay (D-60), Co-Chairs of the Aging Committee, who championed the inclusion of Service Navigator support in Senate Bill 1176.
• Senator Catherine Osten (D-19) and Representative Toni Walker (D-93), Co-Chairs of the Appropriations Committee, who ensured $390,000 in recurring funds were included in the state budget.

On behalf of the five Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) serving communities across the state, AgingCT extends sincere appreciation to the Connecticut General Assembly for their commitment. This reflects a deep understanding of the challenges facing Connecticut’s aging population and a shared dedication to ensuring dignity, equity, and access.

With continued partnership, we can build on this momentum to ensure no Connecticut resident is left behind when support is needed most. Thank you for standing with us!

Stories From The Field

Better Health is Rolling In: EMS Mobile Health Units Bring Preventive Care to Underserved Populations

The 2025 Connecticut Healthy Aging Data Report reveals that older adults comprise close to 25% of the state’s population. Connecticut also has the highest rates of several chronic conditions, including hip fractures, Alzheimer’s disease, and osteoporosis, when compared to other New England states.

To address these trends and systemic issues, the state continues to develop its Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Mobile Integrated Healthcare system (MIH). This initiative extends care beyond hospitals to community settings, focusing on preventive care, chronic disease management, and mental health assistance, particularly for underserved populations.

In short, the program allows specially trained paramedics, nurses, and other clinicians to provide scheduled home visits for high-risk patients with chronic conditions like congestive heart failure or Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. They help patients manage their condition and follow hospital discharge instructions to prevent further complications.

Mobile units are better able to reach vulnerable and underserved populations, including the elderly, low-income individuals, and those in rural areas with limited transportation. By addressing chronic conditions and risk factors at home, these programs reduce expensive and unnecessary emergency room visits, hospitalizations, and re-admissions. This proactive, preventive care approach leads to better health outcomes and builds stronger communities by fostering trust and stronger relationships between healthcare providers and patients when meeting people in their own communities.

In addition to preventive care and emergency room discharge follow-up, mobile units can target health services to reach populations with known access issues to provide vaccinations, health screenings, dental care, and chronic disease management. They can also address mental health crises and provide behavioral health assessments that connect people in crisis with specialists while reducing the need for police or emergency department intervention.

Importantly, the opportunity to observe patients in their living environment allows mobile health teams to point people to other crucial community resources.

Area Agencies on Aging (AAA) offer a variety of wellness-related programs and collaborate with aging network providers for initiatives that occur in the community and in people’s homes. Medicare Counseling ensures that participants understand the many facets of care that they are eligible to receive. Senior Nutrition programs offer healthy meals that meet the therapeutic Dietary Guidelines for older adults. Home and community-based services at many levels provide supportive care or transportation for medical appointments. AAAs are trusted stewards of federal and state funding that support these services, and we continue to advocate for efficient and effective options at national, state, regional, and local levels.

Connecticut’s MIH system is supporting EMS agencies, paramedics, advanced practice providers, and community partners to work together to help patients get the right care at the right location, including assisting them in taking better care of themselves in their own homes. When it comes to cost-effective strategies to improve health outcomes, it’s just another positive example of how your community partners roll.

Legislative & Advocacy

Aging CT’s Call to Action to Preserve Services for Older Adults

It was a call to action in every sense of the word. Organized in less than three days, AgingCT’s urgent Legislative Forum held on Friday, April 25, 2025, featured 17 speakers and hosted upwards of 300 online attendees. Proposed dramatic restructuring of federal funding supporting the long-standing Older Americans Act (OAA) threw Connecticut’s Area Agencies on Aging (AAA) and partners into overdrive, and the power of their connectedness and vast networking ability was on full display.

The five directors of Connecticut’s AAAs convened Congressman Joe Courtney; Commissioner of Aging and Disability Services Amy Porter; CT State Representative Jane Garibay, Chair of CT’s Aging Committee; CT State Senator Matt Lesser, Co-chair of the Health and Human Services Committee; and representatives from the offices of Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro, Congresswoman Jahana Hayes, and U.S. Senator Chris Murphy. In addition, the forum featured speakers who relayed compelling client stories regarding transportation, senior nutrition, CT’s State Health Information Program (CHOICES), the National Family Caregiver Support Program, and Outreach Services.

At the center of discussion was the potential impact of a sensitive internal government “passback” document that was leaked to the public in mid-April. This document, the second of a five-step process in creating the president’s budget request, is a preliminary proposal shared by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) with federal departments and agencies. A passback traditionally provides a clear indication of the administration’s priorities and served as a harbinger for the president’s formal budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2026 that was released to Congress on May 2, 2025. 

Major concern was focused on the Fiscal Year 2026 Discretionary Budget Request, which included a restructuring of the OAA. The proposal aimed to split the Older Americans Act programs across different federal agencies, namely the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). This would have dismantled the current coordinated approach, where the Administration for Community Living (ACL) has overseen the OAA since 2012.

This restructuring could have led to increased administrative burden and potentially delayed and/or reduced the amount of funding reaching the intended recipients. As of this publication, indications are that OAA-funded programs will remain co-located under the new Administration for Children, Families, and Communities. It is clear that the mobilization of passionate advocates can create positive change.

For more than 50 years, the OAA has connected older adults and their caregivers to services that help older adults age with health, dignity, and independence in their homes and communities. This vital federal program serves every community in the country. OAA programs provide local delivery of services and supports, from meals to in-home help, transportation, home modifications, legal services, and much more. Services provided in the community are less expensive than institutional care. The OAA supports family caregivers and acknowledges the significant contribution they make to improving the lives of their loved ones, reducing healthcare costs, and strengthening their community. Programs and services are designed to be provided locally, supporting the community in ways that meet the needs of the community. The infographic details just a few of the many services provided to Connecticut clients.

AgingCT thanks the presenters and participants who supported our Legislative Forum and is grateful for your support as we work together to preserve life-saving services for older adults, individuals with disabilities, and caregivers.

Stories From The Field

Where There’s a Will (and an AAA)…There’s a Way!

In Uncasville, an oxygen-dependent husband is the primary caregiver for his wife, who has a variety of medical conditions that render her wheelchair bound. She requires a heavy, cumbersome Hoyer-lift transfer that the husband is barely able to manage. They are both enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans and struggle to meet the co-pays and deductibles. The wife’s wheelchair was more than a decade old and falling apart, and her insurance plan was unwilling to purchase a new one. Fortunately, an Area Agency on Aging (AAA) Service Navigator connected them with the CT Medical Equipment Recycle program, an initiative of the Willimantic Lions Club, and they were able to obtain a new chair free of charge that fits her perfectly. That’s just the beginning of this story.

Realizing there was more to be done, the AAA applied for the Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB) for both, which gave them some extra money each month and limited their medical expenses. QMB is a Medicaid program that helps people who are already enrolled in Medicare to pay for their Medicare Part A and B premiums, copays, and coinsurance. QMB also pays for all Medicare deductibles. It is a type of Medicare Savings Program that provides financial assistance to those with limited income and resources.

Many people don’t know about QMB, but Service Navigators do…and often help older adults and those with disabilities to connect with services that provide some much-needed breathing room.

The husband then applied to the National Family Caregiver Support Program (NFCSP) for some short-term assistance, and the AAA was able to fund a Personal Care Assistant (PCA) a few days a week to help the wife with morning care. Taking it even further, the AAA applied to the Connecticut Home Care Program for Elders (CHCPE) for the wife, and met the husband at the credit union to explain what documentation was needed to provide transaction and account closure verifications that were required by the Department of Social Services. Timely intervention? Lots of paperwork? Help from a skilled, trusted resource? Improved quality of life? “Yes!” to all! 

The wife now has eight hours a day of PCA help so the husband can tend to his own medical needs…and thanks to caring, knowledgeable staff from an Area Agency on Aging, everyone in this story from the field is breathing easier. 

This client story is a prime example of the vast benefits provided by Service Navigation from AAAs. Service Navigators, along with other AAA staff and resources, help with immediate concerns but also seek a wider array of supports. We guide clients and help find improved long-range services and solutions that they would not have been able to find on their own.  Even if the client has the capacity to search for programs, the process is often overwhelming. Diverse connections throughout the AAA network facilitate the depth and breadth of services for each individual client.

Compassionate professionals and quality programs make a world of difference to those in need. Each of CT’s five Area Agencies on Aging have countless success stories like this one. Visit the AgingCT website to find your local agency…and call your legislator today to preserve important resources like these for older adults, individuals with disabilities, and their caregivers.

Legislative & Advocacy

AgingCT Advocacy: Full Steam Ahead

The Connecticut General Assembly convened in early January for its 2025 legislative session, which will run through June 4^th at midnight. There is much to do and much at stake in this short time. Aging services had a particularly fruitful session last year, with sweeping reforms supporting access to long-term care services. Representative Jane Garibay (D-House District 60) and Senator Jan Hochadel (D-Senate District 13) led the Committee on Aging with Speaker Matt Ritter (D-House District 1) offering a comprehensive bill supporting family caregivers and expediting access to long-term care.

Aging CT’s 2025 agenda calls for the support of community navigators to help adults and families navigate complex systems and make informed decisions when needing care for older adults and individuals with disabilities. Raised Senate Bill 1176 outlines a request for two additional service navigators in each of the five Area Agencies on Aging.

Aging CT again calls for an increase to the Connecticut Medicaid asset limit, which is the lowest asset limit in the nation. At $1600 per month, Medicaid recipients are forced into extreme poverty without savings for emergencies which can lead to premature nursing home admission. Senator Martin Looney (D-Senate District 11) and Senator Tony Hwang (R-Senate District 28) have presented bills to increase the lower limit set in 1974.

Long-term care services are not possible without a robust provider network. AgingCT supports increased reimbursement for Medicaid providers. In December 2023, PA 23-186 required the CT Department of Social Services (DSS) to conduct a two-part study of Medicaid reimbursement rates, comparing Connecticut’s Medicaid rates to Medicaid rates in neighboring states and Medicare rates and cost-of-living increases. The study was conducted by Myers and Stauffer CPA firm. Phase 1 inventoried existing Medicaid reimbursement rates, payment models, and provider types and was delivered to the CT legislature in February 2024. Phase 2 of the report was submitted to DSS on December 31, 2024, and included recommendations to map a way forward to meet department goals of rationalizing rates and payment methods while focusing on access needs.

Not surprisingly, the study found that Connecticut’s Medicaid program lags significantly behind other states when paying providers, with many disciplines currently reimbursed at 2007 levels. A thorough review of the consultant’s report with a legislative commitment to appropriate action is necessary for providers to meet the ever-increasing demands of service delivery.

Additionally, program mandates such as increased minimum wage and sick time mandates increase expenses for provider agencies, which threaten the business model and make it exceedingly challenging for home care agencies to hire quality staff. 

AgingCT also supports efforts to add to the stock of accessible, affordable housing and improved transportation options, especially for our rural communities. This session will make for a great thriller with many twists and turns. We will send additional information as it becomes available. And remember…your voice counts. Raise it often!

Stories From The Field

Addressing the Ache for Home

“The ache for home lives in all of us.”

– Maya Angelou, American Poet and Civil Rights Activist

Many older adults are experiencing the ache for home in Connecticut…an affordable home, or for some, any home. For most people, it’s difficult to imagine life without permanent shelter. Those who are homeless and unsheltered are typically out of sight – in encampments in forested areas or parks, in cars and cardboard, or maybe lucky enough to have a quick overnight stay in a warming shelter…but they are not out of mind.

AgingCT is grateful for the newly established partnership with the Connecticut Coalition to End Homelessness as we work together to develop strategies to address senior homelessness. Primary prevention is a key approach. Many programs that best support aging in the community require an address at which to receive services, so we must identify factors early on to prevent individuals from becoming homeless in the first place.

For those older adults who are fortunate enough to have a home, there is a thin line that separates them from homelessness. Unexpected medical costs, home and vehicle repairs, food and heating fuel costs, life-sustaining medication, and other expenses may cause older homeowners to prioritize these costs over making a mortgage payment or paying rent, thus leading to foreclosure or eviction. Support for these situations exists through programs supported by AgingCT such as Connecticut Legal Services, but intervention is needed as early in the process as possible.

Even when an older adult owns a home that is fully paid, ongoing maintenance, taxes, and operational expenses can be challenging to meet when living on a fixed income. Eventually, there is the cost of home modifications necessary to age in place – ramps, grab bars, stair lifts, improved lighting, widened doorways, non-slip flooring materials, bathroom renovations, and smart home devices. Expenses can quickly outpace income.

There are a myriad of financial housing support programs that are available for those who qualify, but the process can be confusing and each is limited in the numbers they can serve, often resulting in years-long waiting lists. Further, financial housing support does not include any physical or wellness-related support. Older adults living at home eventually require homecare services. Every Area Agency on Aging can connect those in need with service navigators, programs, community partners, and resources that will help to ease these challenges. We provide solutions, give voice to their stories, and advocate for policies that will prevent their lives from further disruption. We work diligently to keep our legislators informed of issues impacting the lives of their older constituents and those with disabilities.

An April 3, 2023 article by the CT Mirror, the final in a four-part series about Connecticut’s aging population and the challenges in finding ways to care for people, details “challenges policymakers face as they attempt to ‘right size’ the state’s elder care services by pivoting from long-term care facilities to expanding options for people to receive care at home. By 2040, state leaders expect a nearly 30% increase in the number of long-term care residents on Medicaid who remain in their homes and they’ve committed more than $1 billion annually to that cause.”

The ache for home and the desire to remain there is real. A 2021 survey of town residents aged 65+ conducted by the East Hampton Commission on Aging revealed:

• 93% think living independently at home as they age is very important.
• 85% own their housing and live in a single-family house. A quarter are in senior housing, an apartment, or a multi-family house. Nearly a third are overwhelmed by the care of the house or grounds. 
• 24% need to make changes to their home to stay there. 
• Given their health and finances, respondents strongly prefer to stay in their own home, and a majority prefer a one-level private house. A third have a high preference for a senior apartment or a multi-level senior community.

Raising awareness is also important. In 2022, AgingCT sponsored The Great AAAsk, a statewide survey that asked all Connecticut residents ages 60 and older to offer their insights on the aging and caregiving experience. The data from this survey was used to inform AgingCT’s key areas of focus and legislative priorities.

Over one-half of respondents (52.7%) reported low levels of awareness for “housing information,” while a similar frequency of respondents (50.2%) indicated low levels of awareness for “home modifications.” Future AgingCT newsletter articles will address these issues. 

AgingCT supports a multi-pronged approach that includes collaboration across state agencies and community-based organizations to: 

• Keep people in their homes by providing support and services. 
• Reduce rates of homelessness due to discriminatory housing practices. 
• Address the lack of appropriate housing stock. 
• Protect consumers from untenable rate hikes that contribute to housing loss, debt, and credit damage.

Wherever older adults and people with disabilities choose to call home, Aging CT is committed to assisting them to age with dignity thanks to informative and supportive services such as Caregiver Respite, Senior Nutrition, Benefits Screening, Service Navigation, Money Follows the Person, Wellness Training and many more Aging Answers.

Legislative & Advocacy

AgingCT: Advocacy in Action

As thought leaders in the field of aging and pursuant to the responsibilities entrusted to us by the Older Americans Act, AgingCT educates legislators and policymakers on the issues impacting their older constituents, and advocates for Connecticut’s seniors and those who support them. By any measure, last year’s session was noteworthy for its support of older adults, and advocacy was on full display at this year’s AgingCT Aging & Disability Summit.

In 2024, the Aging Committee successfully sought legislative remedy for numerous priorities which received substantial bipartisan support. Issues included Aging in Place (Public Act 24-39); Elderly Nutrition (Public Act 24-99); Home Health Care Safety; and Social Isolation and Loneliness (Public Act 24-19). 

Earlier this fall, as an opportunity to maintain momentum and to inform future legislative activities, the Aging Committee of the CT General Assembly convened a series of multi-disciplinary task forces to facilitate deeper discussion into the issues related to older adults. The topics included: Expanding Access to Residential Care Homes; Preventing Elder Abuse; Diagnosing Alzheimer’s Disease; and Strengthening Adult Day Care Centers. AgingCT members were honored to be included on these task forces and to participate in the dialogue surrounding these important issues. 

Looking ahead, AgingCT extends our warm congratulations to all returning representatives and senators, and we welcome all new members to the State’s General Assembly. We look forward to making your acquaintance and introducing you the work of AgingCT, our member agencies, and the elder network at large. 

Here’s a preview of our likely issues of focus for the 2024-2025 legislative session:

AgingCT supports increasing the asset limit for recipients of HUSKY C. Older adults and individuals with disabilities are the only segment of Medicaid recipients in CT who are subject to this overly restrictive asset limit which leaves them unable to plan for financial emergencies such as home and vehicle repairs, funerals, rent increases, and other hardships.

AgingCT supports equitable and competitive funding for community-based services. The infrastructure tasked with caring for people in their homes continues to experience a labor shortage. Low pay, unpredictable hours, and transportation costs are creating a disincentive for people interested in entering the field at a time when the need is increasing exponentially. Watch for AgingCT to weigh in favorably on issues of workforce development, avenues for promotion, and valuing the home care workforce. 

AgingCT will also support proposals that address health-related social needs that create barriers to community living, contribute to poor health outcomes, and exacerbate systemic health disparities. These issues will include food insecurity, housing access and affordability, transportation, and social isolation and loneliness. 

AgingCT will further seek opportunities to lend our voice in support of our colleagues on cross-cutting issues such as dementia services, health care equity, and bridging aging and disability networks.

At the federal level, AgingCT along with our national organization and other stakeholders, will await further indication of the incoming Administration’s plans and priorities regarding older adults and individuals with disabilities. We will continue to work with and through our federal contingent to monitor and pursue priorities such as, but not limited to, the renewal of the Medicare Improved Payment for Providers Act (MIPPA), the protection of Medicare and Medicaid, and other programs designed to support CT residents as they age. 

If you are interested in receiving Advocacy Alerts from AgingCT or our member agencies, please subscribe to and share this newsletter within your networks.

Stories From The Field

Economic Security: A Critical Factor for the Health of Older Adults and Individuals with Disabilities

The AgingCT Summit session, held on November 19, 2024, titled “Stuck in the Middle without Enough Money,” featured attorney Carl Glad, an elder law expert and member of the Stratford Commission on Aging. The session focused on the challenges families face when navigating the complex process of spending down assets to qualify for Medicaid. Attendees received practical guidance on managing the Medicaid spend-down process, optimizing resources, and exploring innovative financial strategies to help family members remain in their communities. The session aimed to equip participants with the knowledge and tools necessary for informed decision-making regarding long-term care and financial planning amidst Medicaid eligibility challenges.

Economic security plays a pivotal role in the health and well-being of older adults and individuals with disabilities. Financial stability impacts access to essentials such as healthcare, housing, nutrition, and transportation. Conversely, economic insecurity can lead to severe health challenges, making this issue a critical determinant of overall well-being.

Many older adults rely on fixed incomes from Social Security, pensions, or disability benefits, which often fall short of covering the rising costs of living, medical care, and unexpected expenses. Employment opportunities for older adults and individuals with disabilities remain limited due to ageism, discrimination, and inadequate workplace accommodations, further exacerbating financial struggles.

Certain groups, including women, minorities, and those living in rural areas, face even higher poverty rates. These populations are more likely to deplete their savings due to caregiving responsibilities, medical expenses, or the high costs of long-term care. Rising housing costs add to the burden, with some individuals at risk of eviction or homelessness. A shortage of affordable and accessible housing options worsens health outcomes for individuals with disabilities.

Access to healthcare and medications remains a significant concern. While Medicare provides essential coverage, it does not address all needs, such as long-term care, assistive devices, or specialized therapies, leading to additional financial strain. Limited resources for nutritious food often result in malnutrition, especially for those requiring specific dietary accommodations. Transportation barriers, including affordability and accessibility issues, further restrict mobility and independence.

Structural inequities like systemic racism and insufficient funding for essential programs compound economic insecurity for marginalized groups. Additionally, many individuals struggle to access available benefits due to a lack of awareness, digital literacy, or technological access, leaving them unable to tap into critical resources.

Economic security is a cornerstone of health and independence for older adults and individuals with disabilities. Addressing these challenges requires a comprehensive approach, including policy reforms, increased community support, and improved access to resources to ensure financial stability and enhance quality of life.

Ruth’s Story: A Journey of Resilience

Ruth, a 72-year-old widow in a rural community, faced financial strain after her husband’s passing. Her Social Security benefits and modest pension were no match for rising medical bills from a hip replacement and increasing medication costs. She was forced to sell her home, which was no longer accessible, and move into a small rental without modifications like grab bars or ramps. Limited public transportation made it hard for Ruth to attend medical appointments, and she often prioritized rent and medications over nutritious meals, leading to malnutrition.

With the help of a Service Navigator from the Area Agency on Aging, Ruth accessed resources like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and a local food pantry to ease her financial stress. She also enrolled in a Medicare Savings Program (MSP) to reduce healthcare costs, though navigating these programs was challenging due to the complex application processes and her limited internet skills.

Ruth’s story highlights the critical role of economic security in maintaining health, and the barriers many older adults face. Rising costs, inadequate income, and systemic challenges impact access to housing, healthcare, nutrition, and transportation. Addressing these issues requires expanding programs like Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and MSP; developing affordable and accessible housing; and empowering individuals through financial literacy and employment opportunities.

Investing in equitable policies and community-driven solutions fosters independence and dignity for older adults and individuals with disabilities. AgingCT welcomes partners and providers to collaboratively strengthen resources and advocate for systemic change, so together we can build a society that supports all members of our community.