Wyoming’s statewide budget shortfall is affecting just about every facet of life as we know it.

The decline in oil and gas production and other factors is causing a ripple effect forcing many organizations to rethink how they do business. The Young at Heart Senior Center in Rock Springs is in that same boat.

Wyoming In-Home Services (WIS) is one of the most widely-used programs provided by YAH, but it was “on the chopping block” by the state this past year, according to Executive Director Rachelle Morris.

Morris said WIS is the program the center uses to help people remain in their homes for as long as possible.

“So we may help them with shopping or cleaning, household things like that,” she said. “It helps them maintain their independence. And originally the state said they were cutting the program 100 percent.”

However the state brought back funding for the service this year, but Morris said the biggest impact is being felt in the matching funds provided by the City of Rock Springs and Sweetwater County.

“The City of Rock Springs asked us to cut 30 percent off the bat and the county is looking for about the same amount,” she added. “They didn’t give us a set amount, but they told us we need to do what we can.”

Tough Decisions

In preparing for the shortfall Morris said YAH is cutting one position and planning not to fill two others that were recently left vacant. The center will also cut its hours from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., and full-time staff has been asked to cut its time down to 35 hours/week.

She also said the center stopped taking new clients because it didn’t want to turn around and “have to let them go in a couple months.”

We’re trying to keep our numbers at a reasonable level so we can make sure we’re serving the people that we can in the best way possible.

~ Young at Heart Senior Center Executive Director Rachelle Morris

The center currently serves approximately 350 seniors/disabled individuals each month. Approximately 50-75 people come into the center on a daily basis. 

Looking Toward the Future

Morris said she doesn’t anticipate any immediate changes to the funding model for YAH in the next several years. She said the center was fortunate the state funded Wyoming In-Home Services this year, but that she’s already been told there won’t be money for the program next year.

But there are ways the community can get behind the center and help in these uncertain economic times. Morris said community members can sponsor a senior each month that would help provide for their services.

“Fifty dollars a month would cover two hours of in-home services,” she said. “We charge $4 a meal for seniors, so even that little bit would help sponsor a meal for somebody.”

Arts and craft classes were cut in half under the budget shortfall as well, and Morris said anyone wanting to volunteer teaching a class or just spending time with people is welcome.

Residents interested in sponsoring a senior can contact Activities Coordinator Jamie Loredo. People can also make donations to the center directly on the YAH website by clicking the red “Donate Here” button near the top of the main page.

The community can also interact with the seniors by joining them during meals to share activities or just good conversation.

“If anyone wants to volunteer to help in the dining room when we go back to doing birthday sitdowns, that’s a big day for us,” Morris said. “We serve people restaurant-style so we need hands on deck. If people want to help just call, and we can plug them in somewhere.”

For more information about how you can help the Young at Heart Senior Center, call (307) 352-6737 or visit their website.