CEO of the Elderbridge Agency of Aging Shelly Sindt discusses a financial deficiency it’s facing with the O’Brien County Board of Supervisors going into the next fiscal year.
PRIMGHAR—What acted as financial relief during the onset of COVID-19 has become a crutch to N’West Iowa’s age 60-plus community.
Elderbridge Agency of Aging CEO Shelly Sindt told the O’Brien County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday, Dec. 5 that as American Rescue Plan funds trickle out, the nonprofit is facing an unprecedented financial deficit. Rather than requests for support services to return to pre-COVID lockdown numbers, she said demand in the senior community has only grown as funding diminishes.
“Over $1.2 million of those funds were used last year and it was in our nutrition program,” Sindt said of ARP monies. “I don’t have those funds this year. So, we are facing a $1.3 million deficit in our budget compared to last fiscal year.”
The cost for the Elderbridge Agency to service O’Brien County increased from $135,172 in fiscal year 2021-22 to $194,792 in fiscal year 2022-23. Besides the $59,620 increase over the year, Sindt said N’West Iowa’s 60-plus community is only growing.
“It’s not going to take long for us to get at 30 percent statewide,” she said.
Sindt asked on behalf of the Elderbridge Agency that the O’Brien County Board of Supervisors increase its giving from $11,873 in fiscal year 2023-24 to $12,348 for fiscal year 2024-25. This would equate to paying $3.15 for every 60-plus individual residing in the county.
But O’Brien County supervisors are not the only ones Elderbridge is seeking funding from.
“Our primary funding sources, the Older Americans Act — which is federal funding — we need that increased. Not likely going to happen unfortunately, because of the political climate right now,” Sindt said. “So, hopefully, they won’t cut us. But there hasn’t been an increase in years.”
Meeting with lawmakers, numerous county supervisors and grant writers, Sindt said she is “begging” N’West Iowans to help in its services for the older generation.
“I have met with all of our legislators and shared with them how important it is that the older Iowans are not food insecure out here and can have access to services they need to remain in their home,” she said. “We just can’t continue to serve everyone with what we have.”
Sindt said the Elderbridge Agency served 185 O’Brien County residents last year. She said much of the cost for these individuals came from providing meals.
The supervisors will assess the requested amount for upcoming fiscal year and finalize the decision after budget hearings in April.
“Every county that we’re going to we’re asking for $3.15 per 60-plus population. And we get really good support,” Sindt said. “It’s even more critical right now with our budget deficit and to be sure we’re drawing down those dollars. I’m looking for money everywhere.”
