Funds To Keep Elders At Home Getting Scarce

There’s no place like home.

Eight of 10 older Americans surveyed say they want to spend the rest of their days there.

Exhaustive studies also show the healthiest, most desirable - and least expensive - place to live in later years is at home. By far.

Not just the healthy and fit but, with limited help, the ailing and disabled, too, can live better at home than in ruinously expensive nursing facilities.

Nobody disputes any of this, or that seniors will continue to be the fastest-growing age group in Spokane, the Inland Northwest and the nation for the next 30 years.

And yet, even as the need grows, per capita funding to maintain America’s elders at home as long as possible is being scaled back.

Is this cost effective? Short-sighted penny pinching? Cutting off your nose to spite your face?

Call it what you will, area experts on aging expect it to get worse, as a conservative Congress expands its efforts to cap social programs. “Basically, we know that public funding is not going to keep pace with either inflation or an aging population,” says Nick Beamer, director of Aging & Long Term Care of Eastern Washington.

Beamer heads the state’s designated umbrella agency for aging services in Spokane, Ferry, Stevens, Pend Oreille and Whitman counties, which collectively constitute the largest pocket of poverty anywhere in Washington.

“A few years ago,” says Beamer, “we realized we had to start getting private dollars to help fund senior services in this extremely needy area. So we set up a nonprofit foundation to generate income, obtain grants, and encourage donations by the private sector.”

The Senior Assistance Foundation of Eastern Washington (SAFE) supplements public programs that help the elderly maintain their independence and self reliance “in order to keep people in their own homes.”

This year, for example, there was a funding shortfall in senior nutrition programs designed to alleviate malnutrition, which often leads to depression and other health problems costing vastly more than a little food.

Weekdays, seniors get one free meal a day, typically a hot lunch served at a church or a senior center. Shut-ins can have the meal delivered by a volunteer. “We probably deliver 300,000 meals a year this way,” says Beamer. “Generally speaking, people who get the meals otherwise couldn’t afford them.”

But there’s no public money to provide a second meal for anyone recuperating from surgery or chemotherapy or anything that prevents them from shopping or cooking - even if they can afford it.

“If someone needs two meals a day, or a weekend meal to help regain their strength after a bout with illness,” says Beamer, “we can do that only through grants or private dollars.”

So this year, the foundation started the Inland Northwest Senior Games.

“This community just loves exercise things,” says Beamer. “Fifty or sixty thousand do Bloomsday. I don’t know how many thousand players and fans show up for Hoopfest.

“Before this year, there were national Senior Games and State Senior Games but no Spokane area senior games,” Beamer says. “Quite a number of very athletic and competitive seniors here have been traveling to neighboring states to qualify for national competitions.”

Toni Nersesian, executive director of the Inland Northwest Senior Games, said 375 seniors aged 50 and over took part in this summer’s games. The oldest, Larry Bolks, 91, swam the 50-meter freestyle.

“The games give seniors a positive image,” said Beamer. “And they made us a little money ($375), which I think is pretty good in our first year. We are putting it toward sick-day meals for those who can’t get out.

“We’ll build on this start,” Beamer said. “Next year, we might be raising money for respite care (spelling unpaid family caregivers who become burned out).”

Also next year, in addition to the Inland Northwest Senior Games, Spokane will host the State Senior Games Aug. 9-12.

The foundation’s number is (509) 465-9043.