Linda Dalton

The Trump administration’s proposed fiscal year 2026 budget request for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services would significantly cut or eliminate programs under the Older Americans Act.  

The proposed budget would eliminate the Administration for Community Living (ALC), which currently supports critical programs that support older adults and people with disabilities, including all senior centers throughout the United States. 

Congregate and home delivery meals and nutrition services, which currently are provided through the Powell Senior Center, would be moved to the Administration for Children and Families (ACF). The Powell Senior Center could apply for funding through the ACF, but ACF has no historical knowledge or insight as to how these grants are most helpful to our seniors and the amounts we could apply for would be the same as last year. This would allow for NO growth in these services and with the Cost-of-Living increases, this would be a 12%-15% loss of funding for these services. In April 2025, the Powell Senior Center provided, on average, 191 meals per day.  

Many of the support services and programs that the Powell Senior Center currently provides (programs that are funded through the Older Americans Act/Administration for Community Living) and other programs that benefit seniors are being eliminated in the White House’s proposed budget. The services that would be eliminated that would affect the Powell community would be:

• Medicare State Health Insurance Program — This is the free service that we provide that signs people up for Medicare and Social Security, helping people understand the many parts of Medicare and the help that is provided during Open Enrollment each year for Medicare Part D (prescription drug coverage). In 2024, the Powell Senior Center helped over 300 clients through this program and saved our local community members tens of thousands of dollars.

• Preventive Health — This is the flu shot clinics, blood pressure clinics, foot clinics and health promotion and education programs that the Powell Senior Center provides.

• Adult Protective Services — This program works with cases of elder abuse, neglect and fraud.

• Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP) — helps low-income residents with their heating and utility costs

• AmeriCorps Programs — Foster Grandparent programs and Senior Companion programs

• Falls Prevention Education

• Chronic Disease Self-Management Education — these are the Healthy U classes (Diabetes, Aging Gracefully, Alzheimer, etc.) management classes

• Long-Term care Ombudsman — They advocate for the rights of patients in nursing homes and assisted living centers and check for any issues of abuse.

• Aging and Disability Resource Centers — information to keep seniors healthy and safe

• Community Service Block Grants — funds a lot of community services including food pantries, rent assistance, dental assistance etc.

In addition to all these eliminated programs, they will move the remaining support services that we provide to Centers for Medicare Services (CMS) and they are proposing a 68% cut in funding. The services this would affect include transportation, exercise classes, crafts, games, cards, Wednesday morning cinnamon rolls, medical loan equipment and the information and assistance we provide our community.

The highest voting population in Park County is 60 years old or older. Our seniors built our communities, and our veterans sacrificed so much to allow us all to enjoy the “freedoms” that we all take for granted. These proposed changes will affect everyone, no matter how old you are today. Everyone’s goal is to retire and grow old in comfort.

Please urge our federal legislators to protect our seniors! It is anticipated that these proposed cuts and reductions will be voted on in early June so call or send a letter today. Tell them how the senior center has helped you or a loved one and remind them that they work for you!

(Linda Dalton is the Powell Senior Citizens Center executive director.)

CONTACT:

Sen. John Barrasso

307 Dirksen Senate Office Building

Washington, D.C. 20510

202-224-6441

866-235-9553

Sen. Cynthia Lummis

127 A Russell Senate Office Building

Washington, D.C. 20510

202-224-3424

Rep. Harriet Hageman

1227 Longworth House Office Building

Washington, D.C. 20510

202-225-2311