Kingsport Times News. May 8, 2024.

Editorial: Tennessee merges departments to better help seniors

Adults 65 years and older are now the fastest-growing demographic in Tennessee, and the state’s Commission on Aging and Disability predicts that by 2030, 1.9 million Tennesseans — a quarter of the state’s population — will be at least 60 years of age.

That’s why Gov. Bill Lee last month signed the Tennessee Disability and Aging Act. It merges two existing departments of state government into one, to bring focus on the needs of the state’s senior residents.

The State Department of Disability and Aging comes into existence July 1, replacing Tennessee’s Commission on Aging and Disability and the Department of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities.

That’s of particular interest to Northeast Tennessee, which has a larger aging population that than the state as a whole. Unicoi County leads the region in percentage of older residents. Its population age 65 or older is 23.7%, as compared to the state average of 16.5%.

Sullivan County isn’t far behind with 21.9% of its population age 65 or older. Unicoi is the seventh most aged county in the state; Sullivan the 14th. Greene is 15th with 21.9% over age 65; Carter, 16th at 21.7%; Hancock 23rd, at 21.1%; and Hawkins, 27th at 20.9%. Washington has 19.3% over age 65.

Older residents require different services, primarily care and special assistance due to physical disabilities. The state helps with home-based services, information, a long-term care ombudsman program, nutrition services, caregiver support and transportation services, among others.

The new department intends to help the disabled or aging population get better access to assistance by merging two departments into one.

“When I became governor, I made a commitment to shrink the size of government, ensuring we efficiently and effectively serve all Tennesseans,” Lee said at the signing ceremony. “This is one example of our work to deliver on that promise, enabling better coordination and stronger advocacy.”

The new department will be overseen by Brad Turner, who has served as the commissioner of DIDD since 2019.

Lee noted the legislation creating the new department was approved in the state General Assembly by a bipartisan vote. He said the move will allow for enhanced strategic planning and coordination to address aging issues across state government.

Rep. Rebecca Alexander, R-Jonesborough, was one of the co-sponsors of the legislation that created the new state department. She said Tennesseans will gain access to more services and resources as a result of the move.

“No services will be lost,” Alexander said. “The department of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities has a tremendous amount of resources, and by putting seniors and aging issues under the same department, our residents will be able to access more resources. This will also streamline and better coordinate those services.”

The new department will hopefully remove some of the hurdles that aged and disabled residents face in attempting to receive efficient services from the state.

It’s a sweeping move aimed at improving services for these needy residents, helping them live and age with as much independence and dignity as possible.

As one of only two states previously without a Cabinet-level agency focused on aging, the transition is long overdue in Tennessee.

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