Commonwealth of Massachusetts
The Governor's Budget Recommendation

Elder Affairs

The Executive Office of Elder Affairs will ensure the dignity and independence of elderly persons through the development and management of comprehensive, community-based programs. In fulfilling its mission, Elder Affairs will continue to provide frail elders with community-based, long-term care through home care services; support cities and towns across the Commonwealth in the development and delivery of local programs; offer group and home-delivered meals to elders across the state; develop and promote volunteer and employment opportunities for elders in community service organizations; regulate and certify assisted living facilities; and provide protection to elders at risk of abuse and exploitation.

In Fiscal Year 1997, Elder Affairs will provide home care and related services to approximately 35,000 frail elders every month, provide consumer protection to more than 2,600 elders living in assisted living facilities, and serve close to 8 million meals to help keep elders healthy and in the community. In addition, through direct grants to 347 Councils on Aging, Elder Affairs will help provide activities such as health screening, transportation, and social day care that will reach more than 400,000 elders.

In Fiscal Year 1997, the Executive Office of Elder Affairs will pursue the following objectives:

implement the Governor's proposed Aging Services Access Points (ASAP) legislation; ASAP will create a single point of entry for Massachusetts elders and their families who need program information or long-term care services coordination; and
improve the home care program's capacity to respond to elders' needs by applying current technology to improve client information systems and financial management systems at home care corporations, and to make information more readily available to Elder Affairs.
To more efficiently achieve its objectives, Elder Affairs will collapse its nine current line items into four, including folding assisted living facility certification into the administration account. The Secretariat will continue providing the high-quality services presently provided, but consolidation will allow room for additional management flexibility necessary to maximize resources.

During Fiscal Year 1997, the number of full-time equivalent staff (FTEs) planning and delivering these services will remain at the Fiscal Year 1996 level of 34 FTEs.

Budget Recommendations

The amount recommended for Fiscal Year 1997 will enable the Executive Office to provide the same level of services as in Fiscal Year 1996, including the first full year of certifying assisted living facilities.

Office of the Secretary of Elder Affairs

Budgetary Direct Appropriations

ELDER AFFAIRS OPERATION AND ASSISTED LIVING REGULATION

9190-0000

2,025,036

For the operation of the executive office of elder affairs, including the regulation of assisted living residences

General Fund

87.13%

Assisted Living Administrative Fund

12.87%

HOME CARE, PROTECTIVE SERVICES, MANAGED CARE IN HOUSING AND CONGREGATE HOUSING

9190-0010

115,731,797

For the managed care in housing program, congregate and shared housing services for the elderly, and home care services, including home health, respite services, protective services, case management services, the administration of the home care program, and other services for the elderly; provided, that the home care program shall include a sliding fee program in which all qualified elders shall participate, which shall include provisions to waive said fee in cases where the secretary of elder affairs determines that the assessment would cause extreme financial hardship; and provided further, that not more than three million five hundred thousand dollars in revenues accrued from said sliding fees shall be retained by the individual home care corporations without re-allocation by the executive office of elder affairs, and be expended for the purposes of the home care program, consistent with guidelines to be issued by the executive office of elder affairs

LOCAL SERVICES FOR THE ELDERLY

9190-0020

4,559,341

For local services for the elderly; provided, that all funds appropriated herein for an elder service corps shall be for corpsmembers' stipends, for the cost of mailing corpsmembers' stipends and for corpsmembers' participation in group insurance programs, as set forth in chapter one thousand one hundred sixty-eight of the acts of nineteen hundred and seventy-three; provided further, that the stipend for full-time corpsmembers shall not exceed the maximum allowed under earnings limitation sections of the Social Security Act and the stipend for part-time corpsmembers shall not exceed one hundred thirty dollars per month; and provided further, that the executive office of elder affairs shall maximize federal reimbursement for meals funded herein

GRANTS TO LOCAL COUNCILS ON AGING

9190-0030

3,966,873

For grants to councils on aging; provided, that fifteen thousand dollars shall be expended for the Massachusetts senior games; and provided further, that one hundred fifty-five thousand dollars shall be expended for health benefits counseling and transportation services

Federal Grant Spending

Coordinated Aging, Rehabilitation and Disability Services

9110-0850

153,852

For the purposes of a federally funded grant entitled, Coordinated Aging, Rehabilitation and Disability Services

Older Americans Act - Title III and Title VII

9110-1074

9,915,740

For the purposes of a federally funded grant entitled, Older Americans Act - Title III and Title VII; provided, that the executive office of elder affairs may provide periodic payments in advance to participating agencies

Health Information Counseling and Assistance

9110-1095

350,000

For the purposes of a federally funded grant entitled, Health Information Counseling and Assistance; provided, that the executive office of elder affairs may provide periodic payments in advance to participating agencies

Older Americans Act - Title III Nutrition Program

9110-1173

13,350,000

For the purposes of a federally funded grant entitled, Older Americans Act - Title III Nutrition Program; provided, that the executive office of elder affairs may provide periodic payments in advance to participating agencies

Community Service Employment Program

9110-1178

1,782,324

For the purposes of a federally funded grant entitled, Community Service Employment Program; provided, that the executive office of elder affairs may provide periodic payments in advance to participating agencies

Cash in Lieu of Commodities Program

9110-1181

3,850,000

For the purposes of a federally funded grant entitled, Cash in Lieu of Commodities Program; provided, that the executive office of elder affairs may provide periodic payments in advance to participating agencies

Trust & Other Spending

KEEP MOVING FITNESS PROGRAM

9100-1600

12,000

GOVERNOR'S ANNUAL CONFERENCE ON AGING

9100-1700

45,000

ELDER SERVICE TRAINING PROGRAM

9100-1850

6,000

SILVER HAIRED LEGISLATURE

9110-1722

3,000

ELDER CARE EDUCATION - TRAINING, RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

9110-1851

7,000

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