Palmer Senior Center to discontinue congregate lunch meal service

Last week, seniors arriving at the Palmer Senior Center to meet and enjoy their day, were instead given a letter that the Center will no longer be providing lunches for seniors.

“Effective Tuesday 02/21/2023, the Board of Directors of Mat-Su Senior Services (MSSS) has made the challenging decision to stop congregate meal service at the Palmer Senior Center. Home delivered meal service will continue as this service serves many homebound seniors who are most in need and remains our top priority.”

The letter, written by the President of the MSSS, Linda Combs, explains that the decision to close in-person meals was a difficult one, that in the light of “unprecedented challenges in recent years,” such as the COVID pandemic, rising inflation which has caused soaring food costs and increases in fuel and utilities.

“We were right along with you facing those exact same challenges, only on a much larger scale. The time has come we must be honest with you and ourselves and deal with those challenges directly. This is not easy, nor will it be painless.”

The letter also states that since 2007, Alaska has the fastest growing senior population per-capita of any state in the country. In 2010, the Mat-Su Borough’s senior population, those 60 years and older, was 11,353; today, the population has grown 105% and now stands at 23,224.

MSSS funds its meals programs through Title III of the Older American’s Act (OAA). It was first signed into law in 1965 in response to concern about a lack of community social services for older persons. The original legislation established authority for grants to states for community planning and social services, research and development projects, and personnel training in the field of aging.

Although older individuals may receive services under many other federal programs, today the OAA is considered to be a major vehicle for the organization and delivery of social and nutrition services to this group and their caregivers. The funds are available to all persons aged 60 and older, though targeted to those in greatest economic or social need, low-income and minority persons, older individuals with limited English proficiency and older persons residing in rural areas.

Combs wrote that due to significant adjustments in FY20 and FY21, national funding across the board has seen only modest increases since 2012, and that while State funding compliments federal receipts, it has remained flat for many years. Legislation is currently proposed to increase senior grant funding by nearly $1.5M statewide.

“Mat-Su’s share of both Federal/State funding remains to be seen for future years, but is currently just below $650,000, which in turn is distributed between senior provider agencies in the area.”

In an email, William York wrote that during a February 8 MSSS Membership meeting, there was no mention of any mention of concerns of MSSS having problems of funding the lunch program for the congregate meal service for Palmer area seniors that were coming to the Palmer Senior Center for lunch, or that they were considering a move to eliminate the congregate meals.

“The Board nor the Administration made any announcement that the Board was going to be discussing the elimination of the congregate meal service at the Palmer Senior Center. They did not consult any of the membership about MSSS problems funding the congregate meal service,” York wrote.

Home delivered meal services will remain in place for individuals 60 and older, disabled adults who live with a senior age 60 and older, any individual who is eligible for services under the State of Alaska’s Home and Community-Based Waiver (HCBS) Program, and others who qualify.

The letter went on to say that the center will remain open for social interaction and other activities such as the library, computer room, gift shop, exercise rooms, pool table, commodities distribution and information/referral services.

On Friday, February 24, the Board of Directors and MSSS CEO and COO will be having a Question and Answer session about the discontinued lunch program for seniors, starting at 10:00.

This is a developing story.