What are the ingredients in older adult services funding pie?

Earlier this year, I wrote an Issue Brief about senior levies in the state of Ohio that examined the available funding in the state for older adult programming and services. As I have met with various groups and individuals to discuss the findings of the paper, I am often asked how the federal and state funds are baked into the pie chart below.

We know the recipe for 30 percent of the pie, but do not have the exact ingredients or measurements of the majority of it.

 

Source: Compiled by The Center for Community Solutions using data
from Ohio Department of Taxation and Ohio Legislative Service Commission.

 

As you can see, the largest slice of the pie belongs to levy funds. As described in the original paper, 74 counties in the state have passed levies to specifically fund programs and services that benefit older adults in their communities. The funds raised through levies are generally less restricted than state and federal funding, and each county determines how and by whom the funding is distributed. Although many counties use their levy funds to supplement state and federal sources to provide basic needs services, it was beyond the scope of this paper to fully examine how each county distributed dollars.

We know the recipe for 30 percent of the pie, but do not have the exact ingredients or measurements of the majority of it. Programs and services distributed through the Ohio Department of Aging make up the state and federal funds spent on older adults in Ohio. Line items for state and federal funding are detailed in the Legislative Service Commission’s Greenbook for the Department of Aging Budget. The table below lists these ingredients and, where possible, a link to a website to learn more about the specifics of the program.

What are the ingredients in older adult services funding pie? We know that answer for 30% of the funds but not the rest. Click To Tweet

StateFederal
Operating ExpensesHome Energy Assistance Programs (HEAP)
Long-Term Care OmbudsmanSenior Farmer's Market Nutrition Program
Nursing Home Quality Initiative Senior Community Service Employment Program*
Matching dollars for Older Americans Act Chronic Disease Self-Management
Alzheimer's RespiteMyCare Ohio Navigation
Retired Senior Volunteer ProgramAlzheimer’s Training/Assistance
Foster Grandparent ProgramAdministrative Expenses for Medicaid Waivers: PASSPORT, Assisted Living, PACE
Senior Companion ProgramSupportive Services through Older Americans Act (see list of services below)
Administrative Expenses for Medicaid Waivers: PASSPORT, Assisted Living, PACECongregate Meals
Senior Community Outreach and Education Home Delivered Meals
Long-Term Care Consumers Guide Chore Services
Board of Executives for Long-Term Services and Supports Counseling
Enrollment Assistance for MyCare Ohio Adult Day Care
Administrative Costs for Provider CertificationHome Health Aide
Resident Services Coordinator ProgramHome Maintenance
Homemaker
Information/Referral
Legal Services
Outreach
Protective Services
Recreation
Respite Care
Transportation
Exercise Classes
Walking Programs
Wellness activities at Senior Centers

*SCSEP funding is authorized by the Older Americans Act and administered by the U.S. Department of Labor. The Ohio Department of Aging funding allocated towards SCSEP currently supports 30 counties. The remaining 44 counties have programs that directly contract with the Department of Labor. These dollars are not reflected in the pie chart above.