The association has no official position on the slots referendum.
Representatives of several nonprofit groups at yesterday's event said they're straining to handle overwhelming demand for their services.
The fast growth of the over-age-85 population has put pressure on services for the elderly, especially a Department of Aging program aimed at keeping senior citizens in their homes rather than costly nursing homes, said Kim Burton, director of Older Adult Programs for the Mental Health Association of Maryland and co-chair of the Maryland Senior Citizens Advocacy Network.
"Demand is going up and funding is going down," leaving 10,000 seniors on waiting lists, she said.
Dennis Cherot, president of Baltimore-based Total Health Care, a treatment center for uninsured patients, said the program depends upon federal and state funding under Medicaid. He said the program has already felt a pinch from state changes in patient eligibility guidelines.
"That can make it more difficult for clients to be eligible," Cherot said. "When there's a tight budget, we're always concerned. We're concerned about where the cuts will take place."
lorraine.mirabella@baltsun.com
