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Senior services get six-month reprieve with Illinois stopgap deal

ROCK ISLAND, Illinois – It’s business as usual on Friday at the Rock Island County Senior Center. “We support each other,” said Rita Mel...

ROCK ISLAND, Illinois -

It's business as usual on Friday at the Rock Island County Senior Center.

"We support each other," said Rita Melgoza, Rock Island.

Support that's also in the cards from Illinois.

The stopgap deal will revive the Western Illinois Area Agency on Aging through the end of 2016.

"We took a deep breath and said, good, we can now provide some services for these seniors," said Executive Director Barb Eskildsen.

Thursday's vote triggered federal funding to keep the doors open.

The agency also expects some state dollars that were held back during the stalemate.

"It means a lot to us," she continued.

The agency, which serves 10 regional counties, faced closing in September without a budget deal.

"We're not going to have to close our agency," she said.

"It's helpful to us in a lot of ways," added Florence White, Milan.

By late next week, there should be more clarity on funding programs and services.

At the Senior Center, it's something to celebrate.

"I'm hoping they will continue to increase because it's so beneficial to everyone here," said Melgoza.

While the stopgap budget is welcome, they also realize that it's a temporary solution.

"In January, we could be in the same situation when we have to determine how much funding we have, and that we may have to close again," Eskildsen said.

Eskildsen believes that phone-calling and advocacy helped rank-and-file representatives to convince party leaders.

It's a temporary victory for independent living.

"It will allow them to stay in their homes, in the community, and not have to go to a nursing home setting," she said.

Friday's card game at the Senior Center really says it all.

"It's really uplifting to be able to be here," Melgoza concluded.

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