Federal Funding Supports Maricopa County Seniors, Adults With Disabilities
January 2022
Seniors and adults with disabilities in Maricopa County will benefit from $10.6 million in funding that will support an increase in demand for services among seniors and adults with disabilities in the county.
On Aug. 4, the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors approved a contract with the Area Agency on Aging (AAA) for $10.6 million for services through June 30, 2024. The funds are being used to address the specific needs of seniors and adults with disabilities that include:
· Closing service gaps at senior centers in local communities;
· Growing the workforce of direct care workers who provide essential in-home services;
· Supporting adult day health centers to ensure they have the resources to safely re-open to care for some of the County’s most vulnerable seniors; and
· Providing intensive home cleaning and remediation services to ensure individuals reside in safe and sanitary conditions.
“We’re grateful to the Board of Supervisors for allocating this considerable amount of funding to support the increased demand for home and community-based services for seniors and adults with disabilities,” said Jacqueline Edwards, Director of Maricopa County Human Services. “Through this partnership, we can support the essential services provided by senior and adult day health centers across the County as well as meet the demand for in-home care and assistance so all those we serve can live safely and with dignity.”
Of the $10.6 million in funding, $8.8 million will be administered as grants to agencies serving disabled and senior adults, including senior centers located throughout Maricopa County and $2.7 million in adult day health care centers.
“Many of the clients we work with experience poverty, are isolated, and their struggles are not always evident to those in our communities,” said Laura Henry, Assistant Director of the Senior and Adult Services Division of Maricopa County Human Services. “Unfortunately, the pandemic exacerbated these challenges. This funding will ensure that we can meet the needs of these vulnerable individuals and provide these essential services again.”
Henry explains that Senior Centers play an important role in the community, offering companionship, activities and essential nutrition. The pandemic forced these centers to shut down or cut back in-person services. The senior centers can now open fully to help ward off the isolation brought on by the pandemic and serve meals that many seniors with low incomes rely on to meet their daily nutritional needs and supplement their limited budget.
The program is federally funded through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), enacted to provide programs and services to help people, families and businesses recover from the effects of the pandemic. The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors approved spending priorities for $435 million in ARPA funds that can be tracked on a public dashboard.
For more information on the senior and disabled adult services available to Maricopa County residents, visit HSD.Maricopa.gov.
About Maricopa County Human Services
As the fourth largest county in the nation home to some of the nation’s fastest-growing cities, Maricopa County’s population is large, growing and more diverse than ever. Maricopa County’s Human Services Department has five divisions that provide services and programs to people of all ages and abilities to promote their well-being. From offering early education to career training and employment services to case management for aging and disabled adults — the Human Services Department serves as a leader in the region to support strong families, neighborhoods, and community relationships. Learn more about the financial, educational, and support resources available to eligible Maricopa County residents at www.HSD.maricopa.gov.
