Rockingham County commissioners hear aging-services briefing: long waitlists and funding gaps for home-delivered meals

Rockingham County commissioners heard a data-driven briefing on aging services from PTRC planning staff and area providers that highlighted growing need, constrained funds, and long waits for in‑home supports.

Bob Cleveland, planner for the PTRC aging program, said the county’s older-adult population is growing and that senior‑center funding at the state level has been effectively flat for decades. Cleveland gave a snapshot of FY‑26 aging funding that totals approximately $795,000 across block grants and other streams; he said that while the county receives about $730,000 in block-grant funding it must provide a 10% local match for some of those grants and that total local needs outpace available funds.

On service metrics, Cleveland said Area Disability & Transportation Services (ADTS) served 192 home‑delivered‑meals clients and currently has a waiting list (about 173 people) with average waits of 18–24 months for some services; congregate-meal sites and some home‑care levels also experienced waits. Pam Drews, who spoke as a family caregiver, described how respite and caregiver services helped her keep parents at home and the risks when services run down or waitlists grow.

Commissioners asked whether the aging network could expand delivery capacity if funding were available; ADTS staff said volunteers are the backbone of delivery and the program would need dozens of additional routes and volunteers to eliminate waits immediately. Commissioners agreed to consider the presentation during upcoming budget discussions and to pursue state advocacy to increase block‑grant and senior‑center funding.