Georgia Council on Aging praises Senate budget vote

ATLANTA — Vicki Vaughn Johnson, the chairwoman of the Georgia Council on Aging, issued a statement Monday praising the vote on the $27.5 billion 2020 budget by the Georgia Senate for a spending plan that provides funding to address the needs of the elderly.

“Many elderly Georgians will be better off as a result of the 2020 state budget approved today by the state Senate,” Johnson said. “The budget includes extra money to combat elderly abuse, to deliver meals to older Georgians and to help our seniors stay in their homes as long as possible.”

The Senate agreed with the Georgia House of Representatives to aid with elder abuse prevention by voting to increase the number of new caseworkers from 12 to 17 for $1.35 million, while also agreeing with Gov. Brian Kemp and the state House to add five new caseworkers for $366,752.

In elder community living, the Senate agreed with the House to increase Kemp’s recommendation for new funds for home-delivered meals amounting to $1.41 million. At the same time, the Senate increased funding for home- and community-based services to $2 million and increased the number of new slots to 1,053.

Meanwhile, for elder support services, the Senate agreed with the governor and the House to add funding for the Aging and Disability Resource Connection in the amount of $338,802. The Senate added $157,000 for “assistive technology” to help older Georgians continue to live in their homes and communities.

Jennifer Parks