State pulls aging, independent living services from Bluegrass ADD

FRANKFORT, Ky. (WTVQ) – The state pulled all aging and independent living funding from the Bluegrass Area Development District on Tuesday because of reported ongoing financial management issues at the agency. A letter to Bluegrass ADD from Deborah Anderson, commissioner of the Department of Aging and Independent Living in the state Cabinet for Health and Family Services, said the state was executing an immediate take over of federal and state operations of Bluegrass’ aging services.

The letter directed Bluegrass ADD to turn over all records, equipment and information to state officials immediately, but that did not happen when officials went to the Bluegrass ADD offices on Perimeter Drive in Lexington on Tuesday, according to the cabinet.

It is unclear if the state plans to take Bluegrass ADD to court as a result. It is also unclear what will happen to the 40-plus Bluegrass ADD employees who oversee aging and independent living services. The Bluegrass ADD website says the Bluegrass executive committee is scheduled to meet Wednesday.

The state says customers should not see any disruption in service. The contract will be directly between the state and the vendors, according to the cabinet. Some of the services include programming dollars for senior citizen centers, home-delivered meals and in-home care.

Bluegrass ADD has an annual budget of nearly $25 million, with most of that coming from federal and state grants. Bluegrass ADD serves a 17-county area, which includes Anderson, Bourbon, Boyle, Clark, Estill, Fayette, Franklin, Garrard, Harrison, Jessamine, Lincoln, Madison, Mercer, Nicholas, Powell, Scott and Woodford counties.