Alamo Area Council of Governments said it’s suspending some senior services after federal cuts

The Alamo Area Council of Governments plans to indefinitely suspend several senior support services due to “drastic” federal and state funding cuts, according to an internal email obtained by The Lead.

In the email sent recently to AACOG board members, Executive Director Clifford Herberg detailed how funding for senior services under the Older Americans Act would be suspended for fiscal year 2025 due to federal cuts from the Health and Human Services Department.

“We are writing to inform you that, as we prioritize senior nutrition programs, it is our intent to suspend indefinitely the following senior support services administered through our Area Agencies on Aging,” Herberg wrote in the email.

The list of suspended services includes caregiver training, chore maintenance, emergency response, health maintenance, income support, legal assistance, mental health services, case management, personal assistance, physical fitness, residential repair, respite in-home care and social reassurance.

The email indicates AACOG will still prioritize congregate meals and home-delivered meals despite potential reductions in service volume, as these programs combat senior food insecurity.

Many of these at-risk services are currently available at the Dietert Center in Kerrville, which has long served as a hub for senior services in Kerr County.

Local Impact

The Dietert Center provides numerous services that align with those listed for suspension, including caregiver respite services, emergency response devices, and personal assistance programs.

The center, established in 1969, serves Kerr County seniors through its “Meals On Wheels” program, information and referral services, caregiver respite through its “Take Five Club,” emergency response devices, and medical equipment lending, according to the center’s website.

Funding Crisis Explained

The AACOG email points to systemic changes in federal aging policy and appropriations as the root cause. Herberg explained that the Administration for Community Living has been “reduced to a shell with its functions redistributed to other parts of HHS.”

This aligns with recent national developments. Late last month, the Department of Health and Human Services announced a major restructuring that includes the elimination of the Administration for Community Living (ACL), the federal agency responsible for administering programs that help older adults and people with disabilities.

While the base Older Americans Act formula allocations remain intact, the email states “Texas is choosing not to access the funds due to unmet non-federal match requirements.” It further explains that Congressional budget caps for non-defense discretionary spending are constraining HHS’s ability to support the needs of the growing senior population.

“This problem is simple: the federal government is providing less funding overall, and the state is electing not to meet the conditions to access what federal funding remains,” Herberg wrote.

The Texas Health and Human Services Commission reportedly held a statewide coordination call on April 9, advising that FY 2025 funding would be suspended. When asked if HHSC would seek supplemental funding from the legislature, “the response was that there were no plans to do so,” according to the email.

To mitigate total service loss, HHSC indicated it would pool and redistribute remaining carryforward funds from fiscal years 2023 and 2024 allocations across the Area Agencies on Aging to fund the remainder of the 2025 fiscal year. However, Herberg noted that these pooled funds will be “pro-rated, limited in scope, and severely insufficient to maintain current service levels.”

National Context

The situation in Kerr County reflects broader national concerns about senior services funding.

On March 27, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced a reorganization that would eliminate the Administration for Community Living. This federal agency has been responsible for distributing more than 260 million meals annually through programs like Meals on Wheels, providing respite services for more than 1.5 million caregivers, and assisting hundreds of thousands of people with disabilities.

Media outlets nationwide have reported that the ACL has experienced significant staffing cuts as part of this restructuring, raising concerns about the future administration of senior service programs.

While Congress passed a continuing resolution on March 14 to extend authorities and funding for aging services programs in the Older Americans Act for a full year, the administrative changes at HHS have created uncertainty about how these funds will be distributed.

Broader Impact

Herberg acknowledged the real-world consequences of these funding cuts.

“We are under no illusion about the impact this will have. Your constituents—many of whom are aging in place, caring for spouses, navigating fixed incomes, or contractors providing support to our seniors, will feel these service gaps immediately,” he wrote.

The email concludes with a promise to provide updates as HHSC finalizes its redistribution plan and communicates any restoration of funding, noting that the situation remains “very fluid.”

The full implications for Kerr County seniors who rely on these services remain to be seen, but the email suggests the impact could be significant and immediate.

This story is developing. The Lead will continue to report on this situation as more information becomes available.