Support the Manassas Senior Day Program

Connie Young
Published: April 28, 2008

Last year there was overwhelming support from the Prince William County community, the Commission on Aging and the Manassas Senior Day Program Task Force to keep the Manassas Senior Day
Program for special needs seniors open in Western Prince William County. County staff reported to the Prince William Board of County Supervisors this fiscal year that the program had reached capacity.  County staff has not recommended closure this year. In addition, there have been assurances from the BOCS to family members that the program would not be targeted this year.

In spite of all this and with no notification, on Tuesday, April 22 the BOCS voted unanimously by straw poll to eliminate the Manassas Senior Day Program from the Fiscal Year 2009 budget. The final budget vote is scheduled for Tuesday, April 29 at 2 p.m. at the McCoart Building.

The Area Agency on Aging could save the county an estimated $300,000 each year by changing the food vendor used for all of the AAA services. This would fully fund the Manassas Senior Day Program each year and partially fund the Woodbridge Senior Day Program.

The BOCS indicated that they plan to move the clients to a private facility, but they have not indicated what, if any, arrangements have been made with the facility. 

Many clients will not be able to afford the increased costs of a private program. If the county does not plan to subsidize the private facility, all county-subsidized participants will have no place to go.  If the county does plan to subsidize the private facility, the county subsidy will no doubt end up costing the county more than the program does now.

The proposal disenfranchises the elderly at one end of the county and not the other, and therefore is inherently unfair. For the elderly who cannot speak for themselves and for the caregivers who are often too stressed to speak for them, please contact the county supervisors to indicate your support for continuing the program at http://www.co.prince-william.va.us/default.aspx?topic=040016000030000442. If possible, please also attend the meeting on April 29 at 2 p.m. at the McCoart building.

CONNIE YOUNG

Gainesville