The Idaho Commission on Aging presented its statewide needs assessment to the Senate Health and Welfare Committee and outlined priorities in its 2024–2028 state plan, emphasizing caregiver support, nutrition, technology assistance and loneliness-reduction activities.

Judy Taylor, director of the Idaho Commission on Aging, told the committee the commission conducted a needs assessment as required by federal and state law to inform the state plan. Taylor said the effort included in-person events around the state and an opportunity for older Idahoans to respond to the survey online, by phone or on paper. The commission received 1,109 unique responses from residents in 37 of Idaho’s 44 counties.

Taylor described a "high risk" respondent group made up of people who rated their quality of life as fair, poor or very poor. That group skews urban—66% urban and 34% rural in the commission’s analysis. Taylor said responses show caregivers represent a large share of the high-risk cohort: one finding showed 33% of high-risk respondents said they cannot care for another person without harming their own health and lack needed help.

Taylor identified several recurring needs: social engagement (family visits and intergenerational activities), access to nutrition programs, help applying for benefits, assisted technology for health and socialization, transportation and support for daily activities. She said some concerns that were high on the commission’s previous needs assessment—drug addiction, housing instability and suicide among friends/family—have decreased in relative prominence since that earlier assessment, which the commission credited to partnerships and targeted work.

On program responses, Taylor said the commission’s 2024–2028 state plan (accepted by federal funders in October with no edits requested) includes objectives to implement case management and benefits counseling at a local level, prioritize nutrition, increase the share of high-risk clients served, require each area agency on aging to run at least two assisted-technology projects to promote health and socialization, and have senior centers undertake annual loneliness-reduction activities. Taylor said the commission operates 62 meal sites across the state and will require local area agencies on aging to report quarterly on progress toward state-plan goals.

Committee members asked about specific operational issues. Senator Shippy asked about earlier reports of delayed payments to senior centers and meal providers. Vicki Anzick, project manager at the commission, said there had been delays from one local area agency on aging and some delays related to launching the LUMA payment system but that, to her knowledge, those issues had been resolved by the time of the hearing. Ms. Schneck (department financial staff) explained federal and state rules governing administrative and service funding: the federal Older Americans Act has a 10% cap on administrative costs and the Idaho Commission on Aging requires that at least 50% of all funding go directly to contracted client services; programs may charge some staffing costs but the commission limits how much staff may charge to individual programs.

Senator Wintrow asked about Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD). Taylor said the needs assessment reinforced that caregiving is the highest risk factor for poor quality of life among older Idahoans. She described the commission’s ADRD high-risk caregiver support program, which is available to caregivers for those with dementia or referred by adult protective services, and emphasized prevention, socialization, nutrition and caregiver supports as priorities. Taylor said the commission works closely with public-health ADRD partners, participates on executive steering committees and leads implementation teams.

Taylor closed by saying the commission will monitor and evaluate progress, requires quarterly local reporting, and is implementing targeted projects to increase technology confidence and reduce loneliness. Committee members praised the work and encouraged continued collaboration across state agencies.

(Quotes and program descriptions are drawn from testimony by Judy Taylor, Vicki Anzick and department financial staff as recorded in the committee transcript.)