Meetings to address potential cuts to senior services in Dauphin County

(Harrisburg) — The Dauphin County commissioners plan to hold a series of public meetings on the financial future of programs that benefit senior citizens.

New spending cuts on the federal level, combined with years of stagnant state funding could mean fewer services and waiting lists at the county’s 20 senior centers.

“That’s all while our aging population continues to grow,” explains Commissioner George Hartwick. “Baby boomers have no moved into their golden years and we’ve seen a population increase in our seniors that now has seniors representing over 24 percent of our population in the county.”

Dauphin County is home to some 53,000 residents age 60 or older, and that number is expected to grow by 20 percent by 2020.

Hartwick says the meetings are designed to engage the service providers, seniors and volunteers in a discussion about the impact of potential cuts and ways to protect vital services.

He says the county has already restructured its programs, in recent years, to focus on core services like in-home care and Meals on Wheels.

The first meeting is taking place tomorrow at the Mohler Senior Center in Hershey. Subsequent meetings will be held October 3rd at the Pheasant Hills Estates in Susquehanna Township and October 17th at the Millersburg Senior Center. All begin at 9 a.m.