$14.8 million to end the wait and close the gap
The Silver Key Coalition asks the Legislature for a permanent increase in the Bureau of Aging, Community Living, and Supports (ACLS) budget, so older adults can get the help they need to stay safely at home.
The request at a glance
| Service | Wait list | Underserved | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| In-home services | $8.0M | $1.9M | $9.9M |
| Home-delivered meals | $2.0M | $2.9M | $4.9M |
| Total | $10.0M | $4.8M | $14.8M |
End the wait list: $10 million
6,829 older adults were on wait lists at the end of FY 2026: 5,714 for in-home services and 1,115 for home-delivered meals.
Serving them is estimated to cost about $9.3 million ($7.8 million for in-home services and $1.5 million for meals). Our request of $8 million and $2 million is the same as last year and covers the full need.
Close the gap: $4.8 million
4,734 older adults were underserved at the end of FY 2026, getting some services but less than they need: 1,893 for in-home services and 2,841 for home-delivered meals.
Closing the gap costs about $1,000 per person a year, under $3 a day: $1.9 million for in-home services and $2.9 million for meals.
Why it pays off
Average yearly cost per person for in-home services and home-delivered meals.
Yearly cost per person of Medicaid-funded nursing home care.
Keeping just 96 older adults out of a Medicaid nursing home for one year would pay for the entire $10 million wait list request.
Download the materials
Print these or attach them to an email to a legislator. All are letter-size PDFs.
FY 2027 one-pager
Two pages: the wait list request and the underserved request. A good all-in-one handout.
Underserved fact sheet
A detailed one-page brief on the new underserved request, written for legislators and their staff.
Wait list flyer
A bold, quick-read flyer on the 6,829 older adults waiting for help. Great for events and community members.
Underserved flyer
A bold, quick-read flyer on the 4,734 older adults getting less help than they need.
Legislators: support the Silver Key request
Include $14.8 million for in-home services and home-delivered meals in the FY 2027 ACLS budget. Contact us for the numbers in your district.
FY 26 Advocacy Request One Pager
