Funding for senior services not increasing despite growing senior population
Despite Butler County’s growing senior population, funding for the Butler County Area Agency on Aging has remained stagnant, meaning services like those offered at area senior centers have had to decrease.
Beth Herold, who has worked with the Butler County Area Agency on Aging for 14 years, said while attendance at senior centers has generally increased over the years, stagnant funding has forced the county to reduce operating hours. Currently, none of the senior centers are open more than three days per week or more than five hours at a time.
“The days and the hours that we’re open have decreased over the years, because we don't have the funding to keep them open more days or longer hours,” Herold said.
She explained the agency is struggling to keep up with the growth of the senior population, especially since their funding has stagnated in recent years.
“We’ve been flat-funded for numerous years through the state,” Herold said. “It’s very difficult for us to keep up with the growth of the over-60 population when your funding remains stagnant.”
The main responsibilities of the agency include assisting the county’s seniors and their families with suspected cases of elder abuse, as well as maintaining the county’s seven senior centers.
Herold said the number of cases the agency is looking after has increased over the years even though its funding has not.
“Our cases in Butler County have increased exponentially over the last 14 years,” Herold said. “The need for our workers to go out to assist those that are being physically, emotionally and financially abused has increased greatly.”
As for the senior centers, Herold said, residents continue to gather en masse.
While the senior centers are primarily known for free meals — although they have a suggested donation of $2.50 — Herold said the draw is greater than that.
“They can come in for socialization. They can come in for information on services they might need, whether it be about their insurance or about property tax rebates or caregiver support,” Herold said. “We also provide exercise classes to help increase strength and decrease falls.”
Faith Wells, who helps manage the senior centers in both Slippery Rock and Chicora, says that the former is usually attended by the same core group of around 30 seniors each day it opens — Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
“On Tuesdays, they do a SAIL (Stay Active and Independent for Life) exercise program that’s led by an instructor from the Butler YMCA,” Wells said. “On Tuesdays and Thursdays we have groups who do cards and dominoes, and then on Thursdays we do bingo.”
“I come here to see the people and have a nice meal and play cards,” said Hazel Allen. “It’s very, very friendly and there’s just a lot of things to do. Everybody’s real social.”
“My wife died some years ago, and I’m not a cook, so I come here mostly for the food, and I have some friends here too,” said Frank Semerod.
“It’s a good group here,” said Sandy Dye, “I’ve made a lot of friends here. (Frank and I) became really good friends since we met here, but we’re friends with everyone else here too.”
Butler County’s senior centers are located at 10 Austin Ave., Butler Township; 117 W. Slippery Rock St., Chicora; 2525 Rochester Road, Cranberry Township; 426 E. Main St., Evans City; 727 W. Old Route 422, Franklin Township; 155 Branchton Road, Slippery Rock Township; and 200 Brose Road, Winfield Township.
There are also plans for a new senior center on Duffy Road in Butler Township, which would replace the one at Tanglewood Center. It would also serve as the new offices for the Agency on Aging. Herold estimates it will open next year.
