MONTPELIER – I vividly remember the days, years ago, when I would occasionally deliver meals to homebound neighbors in our communities. Each visit lasted only 30 to 60 seconds, but the impact was profound. An isolated elder’s face would light up when I stepped through the door. I often knew I might be the only person they would see that day. For some, that brief human connection brought a smile as bright as if they had won the lottery. Others carried a look of worry and quiet distress you could never forget.
Isolation and loneliness are powerful forces. Too many older Vermonters have no one to share their fears, struggles or daily burdens with. For them, even a moment of connection can mean everything.
That is why I was deeply troubled to learn that the Governor’s proposed budget eliminates the Elder Clinician Program, a program that serves approximately 1,200 seniors each year. This program supports older Vermonters who are battling loneliness, depression, anxiety and addiction: challenges that too often go unseen.
Mental health matters. Depression and anxiety are not minor concerns; they can be overwhelming and, in some cases, life-threatening. Vermont’s suicide rates, particularly among older men, remain among the highest in the nation. We cannot ignore that reality.
As Mother Teresa once said, “The greatest poverty is the feeling of being alone and uncared for.” The message to older Vermonters cannot be that when they fall on hard times, they are on their own. Emotional well-being is not a luxury: it is essential health care.
The data reinforces this. Eighty-six percent of those receiving home health services are living with three or more chronic conditions. It should surprise no one that, alongside physical care, many also need emotional and behavioral health support.
When I served as Vermont’s Aging Commissioner years ago, I met regularly with the staff of the Elder Clinician Program. I learned firsthand how prevalent depression, anxiety, and substance use disorders were among older adults. I never imagined that three decades later, I would be asked to vote on a budget that eliminates this very program.
Budgets are statements of our values. If we believe that no Vermonter should face aging, illness, or hardship alone, then our budget must reflect that belief. Supporting the emotional health of our seniors is not optional: it is a responsibility.
David Yacavone represents Lamoille-Washington in the Vermont Legislature, including Elmore, Morristown, Woodbury, Worcester and Stowe.
