A Message from the Executive Director Ashley C. McCumber
As I write this message to you, it’s only one day after a horrible apartment fire in Morrisville in late February that displaced more than 70 people. As someone who has led Meals on Wheels programs for almost 20 years, the first thing I think when news arrives like this is to find out if any of our homebound clients are involved or affected. My mind always goes there because a core part of our daily mission is to make sure our clients are seen, visible, and safe. This is the same response we have during other natural disasters and even power outages. Our volunteers and staff truly become a lifeline for many in circumstances like this.
That’s why I am so committed to making sure that our city, state, and federal governments are making smart and sufficient investments in the services we need for our aging population. The timing for more action in Wake County has never been more imminent. By 2040 there will be more seniors in Wake County than children and we are nowhere near prepared to meet that need.
Slightly more than 50% of our annual budget comes from fundraising from our generous annual donors and supporters. On top of that, volunteers generated over $1 million of in-kind support, making sure our deliveries reached the more than 1,000 doors we deliver to each day.
But philanthropy alone cannot meet the need. We need an increasing amount of support across governments – city, county, state, and federal with a match in increased donations. Without both ascending together, we will have to make tough decisions and create a wait list for all programs. Wake-MOW is not alone in this conundrum; it’s a problem Meals on Wheels chapters are facing nationwide. The needs are simply greater than current funding can sustain.
North Carolina's aging plan, specifically the "All Ages, All Stages NC" initiative, aims to strengthen communities and expand local support for older adults across all 100 counties. It focuses on enhancing in-home, community-based services, and digital access through regional partnerships, though implementation faces challenges due to limited state funding.
Key aspects of how the NC plan seeks to expand county support include:
Home and Community Care Block Grant (HCCBG): Designed to increase local flexibility in funding aging services, ensuring better coordination of services for the elderly.
Regional Collaboration: Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) are working with counties to improve services, such as digital navigator programs, for seniors.
Targeted Support: The plan emphasizes strengthening local capacity to support caregivers and providing resources to help seniors remain in their communities.
Addressing Funding Gaps: While the plan seeks to improve services, it notes that many counties face funding shortages, often relying on limited federal funds to fill gaps in services like adult protective services and nutrition.
So, there is real hope that we can move this agenda forward in meaningful ways. But as they say, “the proof is in the pudding.” Without funding, plans are just that, plans.
It’s important to lift our voices and our actions to make sure that we talk about the need of our aging population. It’s a moral imperative but it’s also just plain smart to do so. Every dollar invested in nutrition support for seniors has been shown to save $9 in expensive health care and skilled nursing costs.
In this election year, ask every candidate for every office that you encounter, what they will do to support seniors and create aging-friendly communities.
Vote your values and hold your elected officials accountable. Every politician “loves seniors” and their votes, but we need to ask them “what have you done for me lately?
It’s Spring and soon we will see flowers and warmer weather. Let’s hope we also see a renewed commitment to ensuring the dignity and independence of our senior neighbors.
