With the economy in flux, senior citizen funding is in danger due to proposed state budget cuts.

Facilities that strive to help senior adults are finding it harder and harder to continue serving their communities.

“We’re three months behind on payments from the state,” said Keely Ernest, director of the DeKalb Adult Day Center, 126 S. Fourth St.

The DeKalb Adult Day Center is part of the Northwestern Illinois Area Agency on Aging (NIAAA) and the Fox Valley Older Adult Services (FVOAS).

The NIAAA, 2576 Charles Street, Rockford, is funded through federal Older Americans Act and State of Illinois General Revenue Funds.

NIAAA is part of the “aging network,” which includes the federal Administration on Aging, the Illinois Department on Aging and local public and private agencies serving older adults.

Without the help from the states, Keely said, seniors will have to pay out of their own pockets for these services.

According to FVOAS, 1406 Suydam Road, Sandwich, services available include professional personal care, medical monitoring, recreational activities, nutritional meals and snacks and structured exercise programs. Also included are a variety of activities such as crafts, cards, games and storytelling.

“The number of clients has dropped,” Keely said. “If I had to guess, I’d say it was due to the economy.”

The Gerontologist Journal gives an understanding on the aging process and providing service to older people.

An article from the journal says, “Cutting funds to home-care programs can increase utilization of other more costly services, thus offsetting potential health care savings. Policymakers must consider all ways in which budget reductions and policy changes can affect participants.”

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