Funds, provided by the United States Department of Agriculture, will assist low-income seniors by means of a voucher system, with purchasing Arkansas grown food from a farmer's market. This will be a pilot program in two areas of the State, White River and East Arkansas. The Area Agencies on Aging, for each of these areas will manage the program. Details and regulations are being developed for implementation of this program. Assisted Living facilities to be established and or built through a grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
Plans are to have, within twelve months, an assisted living facility built in Arkansas.
Mr. Sanderson noted the long anticipated signing of the Older Americans Act. Included in the passage of the Act are federal funds for a family caregivers program. Federal funds have been awarded to states to support family caregivers. Arkansas will receive one million dollars. The eight Area Agencies on Aging will develop and implement plans for use of these federal funds.