Advocacy & Public Policy
FEDERAL
Learn about national adult day services legislative efforts from the National Adult Day Services Association
10.21.25
NCSU student intern Caty Blackmon (Resources for Seniors Total Life Center), family caregivers Susan & Matt King, and NCADSA Executive Director Teresa Troup participated in a Day of Action at the NC General Assembly requesting that Medicaid be fully funded in North Carolina. We were grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with over 25 organizations to ask state leaders to work together to protect access, ensure stability, and support the workforce that makes care possible by funding the agreed upon Medicaid rebase. We visited 64 offices distributing stories, and engaging conversation when possible, about the impact of Medicaid cuts on adult day services.
If you sent NCADSA stories of impact or reported to NCADSA that your center served clients whose services were funded by Medicaid CAP/DA or Medicaid Innovations, we visited the offices of some, if not all, of the legislators representing the county or counties that your centers serve. We looked past political parties and association membership to speak up for adult day services statewide. We stood for you while you were working alongside participants and their families. We are stronger together.
How to Advocate for Adult Day Services in North Carolina
- Contact Elected Officials: Reach out to your local, state and federal elected officials to advocate for increased funding and support for adult day services, particularly during budget discussions. Find your legislators at the NC legislative website. Note: your member of Congress represents you in Washington, D.C. not at the North Carolina General Assembly and will not be voting on the policy priorities that NC representatives vote on. Call or email your legislator and introduce yourself. You might include that you are an advocate, a family member of someone in adult day services or a supporter of adult day services. Tell them your concern, e.g. possible cuts, need more funding, and how you want them to respond, e.g. vote against cuts, allocate more tax dollars that support adult day services.
- Support Organizations: Engage with organizations like NC Adult Day Services Association, which represents the interests of adult day services providers and individuals who use the services.
- Senior Tar Heel Legislature: The Senior Tar Heel Legislature provides information to senior citizens on the legislative issues being considered by the NC General Assembly. There is one delegate to the Senior Tar Heel Legislature for every county in NC. This delegate promotes community involvement and advocacy surrounding aging concerns in his or her area of residence. The Area Agency on Aging is responsible for selecting the delegates in their region.
- Raise Awareness: Share information about the benefits of adult day services, including the positive impact on individuals with disabilities and their families, and the role it plays in preventing institutionalization. Emphasize the cost-effectiveness compared to other more expensive care alternatives.
- Advocate for Home-Based Services: Support policies that promote home and community-based services, including adult day services, as alternatives to institutional care.
- Advocate for Adequate Funding: Encourage increased funding for social services block grants, the Home and Community Care Block Grant, and research related to dementia and other conditions that may require adult day services.
- Support Policy Changes: Advocate for policy changes that can improve the accessibility and affordability of adult day care, such as expanding Medicaid coverage or providing subsidies.
- Speak Out: If you have personal experience with adult day services or are affected by a lack of access, share your story with policymakers and the public. Participate in Town Hall meetings that may be scheduled in your community by elected officials. Attend local and county meetings to request support.
- Collaborate with Others: Work with other advocacy groups, caregivers, and individuals who use adult day services to amplify your message and build support. The NC Coalition on Aging and the NC Adult Day Services Association are great groups with which to align.