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For the first time, it is reported that the United States is an aging nation.
Baby Boomers are of retirement age, and families are smaller in number, so it's no wonder that the US is an aging nation. At the beginning of the 20th century, approximately 3% of the U.S. population was 65 and over. By 2030, Ohio is projected to have 20% in this category, and the aged 60-plus population will be greater than Ohioans younger than 19.
The goal for Ohio's Department on Aging and Trumbull County Senior Levy Services is to keep our residents living in their local communities independently.
The current federal Medicaid resource with only 10% of the older population as eligible for Medicaid is only available once one becomes impoverished and has depleted their financial resources. For the other 90%, very few state programs are available to keep one independent in their homes, which puts a heavy reliance on local property tax levies. While some states have home care programs funded through state general revenues, Ohio does not.
The Ohio solution to this challenge has been the use of programs funded via local taxes, as in property taxes, which is how Trumbull County has afforded Senior Services since 2007. Currently, 75 of Ohio's 88 counties use local senior levies. The vast majority are implemented at the county level as Trumbull County does, with Trumbull County residents giving high approval rates at the polls every five years.
This levy will not be on the ballot again until 2029. Ohio has the largest locally supported levy program in the nation, both in terms of the proportion of counties with local support and the amount of funds generated.
This approach, while providing critical services at the local level, results in large variations of access to services depending on the county of residence. Each county has its own directed programs. Often heard are statements like "Mahoning County has Call Buttons, why doesn't Trumbull County?" or "Trumbull County has 14 Senior Centers while Mahoning County has one.?" Does that mean our seniors have more opportunities to stay active, to socially engage, to keep isolation or depression at bay, therefore keeping our seniors younger at heart? I would like to think that would be a positive result for funding 14 senior centers.
Although waiting lists still exist, this administration, along with the support of 11 community members on a Trumbull County Commissioner-appointed Advisory Council continues to work toward the improvement of programs offered and the attempt to reduce those waiting lists, but the money just is not available unless the public wants to pay more property taxes. Sometime in the near future, this administration would like to prepare a survey that would be available on the Senior Levy website to understand the needs of Trumbull County. Servicing with the resources available is always the biggest challenge with the agencies providing the service trying to serve those with the greatest need or no other means of family support.
Trumbull County is fortunate to have these programs and always wants to allocate the funds efficiently. Look for that future survey and assist us with your recommendations. Hearing from our local community could only mean future improvements.
Thank you for your continued support.