Late last year, the Pennyrile Area Development District’s Senior Home-Delivered Meals Program avoided a funding reduction, but another possible funding shortfall is on the horizon as the 2026-27 fiscal year approaches.
At Monday’s PeADD meeting, Amanda Stokes, the director of PeADD’s Aging and Independent Living Agency, shared that they received a letter from Victoria Elridge the Kentucky commissioner for the Department of Aging and Independent Living stating that senior meal programs across the state are facing a $9.1 million reduction.
In the letter, Elridge also shared that Aging and Independent Living agencies will face 4% and 7% funding cuts impacting the Kentucky Caregiver Program.
The meal program currently serves around 700 clients in the PeADD region, and Stokes says they received client prioritization guidelines, many of which are already in place. She says they are looking to see how long clients have received services, if they receive other in-home services, their proximity to the Christian County Senior Center and if they have a high-priority or a low-priority status.
PeADD Executive Director Jason Vincent says they should receive state funds for the meal program by June 30, and if the amount granted is lower than expected they do not plan to immediately reduce their clientele.
Vincent says officials from the governor’s office and the Cabinet for Health and Family Services are still discussing the funding reduction and PeADD will have a better idea about the amount they will receive closer to the end of the month.