Herb Weiss’s latest piece calls for more funding to deliver aging programs and services

The Senior Agenda Coalition of RI (SACRI) has criticized Governor Dan McKee’s proposed $13.7 billion budget for fiscal year 2024, calling it “unfriendly to seniors” and urging for more funding for aging programs and services. SACRI, representing 21 organizations, is advocating for an “age-friendly” budget and has brought 220 older adults and aging advocates to the Warwick Crown Plaza to personally urge House Speaker Joe Shekarchi and Senate President Dominick Ruggerio to address the increased needs of the state’s aging programs and services. Maureen Maigret, a SACRI board member, and policy adviser presented demographic data on the state’s graying population, highlighting the increased needs of state aging programs and services to keep people at home. Maigret urged Shekarchi and Ruggerio to reallocate more state dollars to home care services, supporting a legislative agenda that calls for a “Better Budget for Better Care” that will result in a permanent investment to improve the care provided to older adults. SACRI also urges lawmakers to raise direct workers’ pay to $20 per hour to attract workers into home care agencies and nursing facilities. Learn More…

Read the full article at https://rinewstoday.com/ri-seniors-aging-advocates-call-for-an-age-friendly-budget-herb-weiss/