POUGHKEEPSIE – The 2020 Dutchess County budget to be unveiled by County Executive Marcus Molinaro at the end of the month will include enhanced funding for senior citizen programs and services.
The budget will be subject to approval by the county legislature.
Molinaro’s spending plan will include funding for the development and pilot of a new “more robust and efficient model” for senior citizen transportation, funding to assist seniors with small repairs and mobility modifications in their homes, as well as additional funding for home care services.
Transportation needs are high on the list of pressing issues facing seniors. By 2030, one in every five Americans will be 65 or older, according to the federal agency survey data that also found that 21 percent of people 65 and older do not drive.
Molinaro has set aside funds to review current transportation options, including the county’s Dial-A-Ride program, and explore, new, more efficient models that can be implemented more effectively and with greater reach throughout the county.
Repairs including installation of grab bars, walkway repairs, door peephole installation, and ADA high-rise toilets, are among the minor repairs and accessibility modifications under consideration by the county Office for the Aging.
With the need for home care services continuing to grow, Molinaro will expand funding in 2020 to more than $830,000, providing over 39,000 hours of home care for residents who need assistance to remain at home.
The budget proposal will also expand outreach efforts and coordinate with the care teams at local hospitals and nursing homes throughout the county, particularly those with rehabilitation units, and various medical groups to ensure patient safety when discharged, reducing the likelihood of the senior winding up back in the hospital.
County Legislator Will Truitt supports the enhanced services. “Our local seniors are examples of living history, fountains of knowledge about Dutchess County’s culture and heritage spanning generations, and we are proud to provide them with the highest services and programs to give back all they have given our community,” he said.
