CLEVELAND — As part of Ohio's ongoing two-year budget negotiations, Gov. Mike DeWine proposed $40 million dollars in grants for healthy aging. While it passed as part of the House's plan, it was stripped from the Senate's version, and now the two sides are at a standoff.
The money was meant to help one of Ohio's fastest growing populations: the elderly, and now more and more caregivers are keeping their aging parents at home. A new AARP survey shows family caregivers need more support
Dr. Holly Holtzen is the state director for AARP Ohio, and she says that money could have helped.
"There is definitely a need," she told 3News. "What we know nationally is there's 48 million people in the U.S. helping to take care of parents, spouses, grandparents, and other loved ones."
Here in Ohio, there are an estimated 1.5 million caregivers, with the value of that being roughly $21 billion dollars of unpaid care. That need keeps growing, and many caregivers also pay for expenses out of their own pockets and reduce their work hours or leave their jobs to care for loved ones.
Craig Thomas, senior director of clinical services with the Western Reserve Area Agency on Aging, says the organization offers free guidance on where to go for help
"We field phone calls from individuals that are looking for services and support," he explained. "We coordinate and collaborate with nursing homes, with hospitals, with facilities, and doctors offices."
According to Thomas, AARP refers clients to Western Reserve, because they are funded by the state.
"We have resources and supports that often [are] able to provide services at no cost to the individual," he added. "We're designated to provide these services by the state and by the federal government."
The aging grant money the governor proposed would also go to direct care workers working in the field and in nursing homes. Those wages, even before the COVID-19 pandemic, were already low compared to the amount of care needed in nursing homes.
On Friday, the fiscal year ends, meaning DeWine and the General Assembly must reach some sort of budget agreement. Holtzen is hoping the Senate reconsiders passing the governor's grant plan.
"This issue is really important to 75% of Americans 50 and older," she said, "and we need to help caregivers and their loved ones."
