As the number of older Missourians increases, demand for programs serving older adults and people living with disabilities has grown dramatically. However, the availability of and funding for these services has not kept pace.
AAA Funding
Since established in the 1970s’s Older Americans Act (federal) funding has provided a structure – the AAAs – to be the foundation of the national aging network.
Funds authorized through the Older Americans Act are distributed three times:
- The federal Administration on Aging (AoA) allocates funds to each State Unit on Aging using an interstate funding formula. The Division of Senior & Disability Services (DSDS) is Missouri’s State Unit on Aging.
- State Units on Aging then distribute the funds to the Area Agency on Aging divisions within their state, using an intrastate funding formula. These formulas are based on senior census, economic need, and other factors.
- Area Agencies on Aging then distribute funding across their local programs and services, wherever gaps are identified.
In addition to federal OAA funds, Missouri’s AAAs receive additional funds from:
- Missouri General Revenue
- Social Service Block Grants
- Missouri Medicaid
- County/City Senior Citizens’ Services Funds
- Customer Contributions
- Private Contributions From Individuals, Businesses, and Foundations
- Individual, Local, and Federal Grants
SSGDP Cuts to AAA Funding – 2026
In the 2026 Missouri Legislative session, funding in Missouri for AAAs was decreased by the through a 20% reduction to the Senior Services Growth and Development Program Fund (SSGDP). The SSGDP Fund is a dedicated Missouri state fund established by statute (RSMo Section 192.385) to provide additional, sustainable funding for senior services delivered through the AAAs. Per statue, this funding is intended to supplement other federal and state funding (eg Older Americans Act programs) and is NOT intended to replace general revenue funding.
SSGDP was signed into law in 2019 but initially saw no appropriations. It became fully funded in FY2024 (with a one-time catch-up transfer plus ongoing annual funding of roughly $8 million) after years of advocacy by ma4, Silver Hair Legislature, senior advocates across the state, and bipartisan legislative support.
The 2026 cut of 20% will impact the State Fiscal Year 2027, beginning July 1, 2026. This funding loss is a loss for seniors across the state who rely on the vital services provided by AAAs. Keep informed on ma4’s efforts to restore this important funding in the next legislative session.
More Missouri Budget Info
According to the Missouri Budget Project, findings suggest that Missouri does not adequately fund services for older adults and people living with disabilities, particularly critical wrap-around services targeted toward community dwelling Missourians that are designed to prevent and delay the need for much more costly institutional care.
Findings by Missouri Budget Project include:
- Cuts to home-based care threaten to roll back the progress and cost savings that have been realized due to Missouri’s shift away from institutional care, pushing older Missourians into more costly and restrictive care settings.
- Funding for programs designed to support independent community living and enhance quality of life for older adults and people living with disabilities is both low and stagnant. These programs account for less than 1% of the state budget and have grown little over time despite increasing need for and rising cost of providing services.
- Community-based supports and services have been hit especially hard by cuts related to budget shortfalls in the last decade. These programs were cut by over 40% between FY2017 & FY2018 and have yet to recover to prior levels.
See the Missouri Budget Project Report and visit the Missouri Budget Project’s website to learn more about Missouri’s budget.
National Funding Fails to Keep Pace
AAAs, across the country and here in Missouri, rely on federal funding, flowing through state units on aging, to administer essential services for adults over 60 and their caregivers. Funding for OAA programs is falling behind America’s growing 60+ population.