Senior citizen agencies wary of switch in provider

PROVO — If it isn't broke, don't fix it:

That's the opinion of some providers of services to the elderly in Utah County after hearing news that the Utah County Commission is considering a petition to take over management of those duties.

Services such as Meals on Wheels, in-home health care and transportation for the elderly are provided by Mountainland Association of Governments through its Aging and Family Services Division.

But county commissioners, who voted to withdraw from MAG in February, are now considering petitioning the state Division of Aging and Adult Services director to designate Utah County as the provider of those services.

Directors of senior centers in Orem and Springville both said if they had to make a choice, they would probably prefer to stay with Mountainland.

"We have a real comfort level in working with Mountainland," said Orem Senior Citizens Center director Jerry Oritz. "I think they've been very responsible and professional in providing aging services. If the county can step up to the plate and do it as well, I guess that's something we'd have to consider."

Oritz said some seniors are wary of an interruption or decline in services if Utah County officials took over.

"I have had some seniors express to me that they would be concerned, just because of the unknown in terms of funding for services — a lot of that comes through the federal government," Oritz said. "They have expressed some concern that their services would be compromised."

Commissioner Steve White said the county's goal in considering the petition is to provide better services for a rapidly growing, baby boomer population of seniors.

"There's no vendetta (against Mountainland); that's not it at all," White said. "We're looking at our citizens, the people that elected us, and we're seeing a crisis that's coming. And we see the county as being the only entity that has the resources and expertise to help solve this problem."

Salt Lake County, which manages its own aging services, currently contributes around $6 million a year to support its services. Utah County contributes about $30,000, "hardly anything," according to White.

"Right now, because it's not a division of the county government, the county isn't stepping forward with any funds to help in that," he said.

White said that funding needs for senior services are going to increase rapidly in the next 15 years, and Mountainland lacks the taxing authority to make up for the shortfall.