To the Editor:

Here in Lafayette County, we take pride in looking out for our neighbors, especially our seniors. These Missourians spent their lives building our communities, raising families, working our farms and businesses, and volunteering wherever help was needed. That’s why the recent cuts to senior service funding in Missouri’s state budget are so concerning. They deserve to age with dignity, yet this budget effectively writes them out of the state’s priorities.

Programs supported through Area Agencies on Aging are not luxuries. They are lifelines for many older adults in our community. Home-delivered meals, transportation to medical appointments, and in-home care are important for many seniors. Yet as our aging population grows, the recently passed budget weakens — rather than strengthens — the programs designed to help them live independently and with dignity.

Last fiscal year alone, the Concordia Senior Center, Higginsville Senior Center, and Margaret Gray Center in Lexington served 36,810 meals combined to local seniors. That represents people who may otherwise go hungry, seniors who get checked on daily, and long-distance families knowing that that someone close by cares about the well-being of their loved ones.

Missouri has always valued hard work, family, and community responsibility. We should honor those values by ensuring our seniors can age with dignity and security. While this year’s budget decisions may already be finalized, our legislators still have the opportunity and the responsibility to make senior services a priority moving forward.

It’s time to show real respect for the men and women who made Missouri strong.

Signed,

Care Connection for Aging Services

Hayley Grimes

Public Information Assistant