By Cathy Bollinger, Executive Director of Embracing Aging, York County Community Foundation
Natalee Gunderson, President & CEO, York County Community Foundation
Aging is not a problem to fix—it is a journey we are all on. Thanks to advances in medicine, better public health, and healthier lifestyles, that journey is lasting longer than ever. That’s something to celebrate.
In York County, nearly 4 in 10 residents are age 50 and older, and every year, the number of residents turning 60 increases by 18%. And by 2040, our population of those 85 and older is expected to nearly double. This gift of longevity is remarkable—but it becomes truly meaningful only when we ensure that those extra years are supported with the resources needed to live safely, with dignity, and with purpose.
However, quality of life for those 50 and older may be in jeopardy if resources shrink and needs continue to increase.
For more than a decade, federal and state funding to support older adults has not kept pace with the population growth. And now, proposed 2026 federal budget cuts, reduction or elimination of key services under the Older Americans Act (OAA) and restructuring of the Dept. of Health and Human Services (HHS) threaten essential programs—programs that allow older adults to live independently, safely, and with dignity. It also means aging service providers will continue to be asked to do more with less.
These services aren’t luxuries. They are lifelines.
Why It Matters—To Everyone
Whether it’s your parent, grandparent, neighbor, or one day, you—the impacts of these funding reductions or eliminations will be deeply personal. These community-based programs are investments in all of us—preserving independence, health, and community connection across generations. Currently, only 4.5% of older adults live in a skilled care facility, according to the National Institute of Health. The vast majority, around 93.5%, prefer community settings, highlighting a strong preference for independent living.
What’s at Risk?
Reduction of funding for:
- Evidence-based health and wellness programs, such as those aimed at preventing falls (the #1 cause of death and injury for older adults)
- Resident advocates for seniors residing in nursing homes who have no one else to assist with service navigation
- Adult protective services that respond to the potential abuse, neglect, and exploitation of older adults, including the more than 1,600 reports in York County last year
- Crucial in-home non-medical supports like help with dressing and bathing, home repairs, rides to doctor visits, and caregiver respite
- Substance abuse and mental health services
- Medicare State Health Insurance Assistance Program (PA MEDI), counseling older adults rely on to help navigate this complex insurance system, which counseled over 2,500 older York Countians last year
- Medicaid (nearly 30% of Medicaid dollars support Medicare enrollees). In Pennsylvania, 13% of people 65 and older, and 59% of nursing home residents are covered by Medicaid. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS), since the Medicaid Expansion in 2015, York County has received an estimated $103 million in additional economic stimulation.
- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). DHS reports 25% of SNAP recipients in Pennsylvania are 55 years of age or older, and SNAP provided more than $11 million in food assistance benefits in York County in 2024. In York County, that could translate to more than $2.75 million dollars in benefits for older adults.
What Can We Do?
All of us deserve to have the best quality of life possible as we age, which includes living in the home and community of our choice for as long as possible. The proposed federal cuts, and their impact on state and local funding, threaten our opportunities to do this. We owe it to York Countians of all ages, to act now.
Here’s what we can do:
- Stay informed. Organizations like USAging (https://www.usaging.org/advocacyalerts) track critical issues and offer ways to take action. Sign up for their alerts to stay engaged.
- Speak out. Share your stories of how these services make a difference in your life at town halls, contact elected officials at all levels of government, write an op-ed, contact aging service providers. Help people understand the impact these cuts will have on you or someone you love. It is important for lawmakers to digest how real people are harmed by policy changes and drastic budget cuts.
AARP has launched an action page on ways to engage Congressional representatives on this topic, which can be found here: www.aarp.org/RejectCuts
- Connect. York County Area Agency on Aging is dedicated to providing key services to older adults. Become connected to their work and how you can become involved: York County Area Agency on Aging (https://yorkcountypa.gov/162/Agency-on-Aging)
Aging isn’t an “us versus them” issue. It is all of us. Together, we can ensure that York County remains a place where everyone, no matter your age, has the opportunity to thrive—today and for generations to come. Because when you protect our aging population, you’re not just planning for “them“– you are investing in your own futures.
