CHEER CEO advocates for older adults at White House forum
CHEER Inc. CEO Beckett Wheatley represented Delaware’s older adults on behalf of Meals on Wheels America at a Communities in Action: Building a Better Delaware forum recently held at the White House in Washington, D.C.
Wheatley joined other Delaware leaders April 11 to discuss the positive impacts on Delaware from the Biden-Harris administration’s Investing in America agenda and to showcase local initiatives working to improve the lives of Delawareans. President Joe Biden made a surprise visit and addressed the delegation along with several other White House advisors.
Delaware’s senior population continues to grow and age. Today, 19% of the First State’s population is age 65 and over. The number is 30% in Sussex County, where CHEER Inc. provides a wide array of senior services including homebound and congregate meals. At least 50% of Sussex County’s population is over the age of 50.
CHEER’s Nutrition Program relies partly on federal funding from the Older Americans Act, the purpose of which is to reduce hunger, social isolation and loneliness, and improve older adults’ health and well-being. Increased funding and modernized OAA policies are needed to continue to support and improve services to meet the needs of local seniors for successful aging in place. These meals play a critical role in helping keep seniors healthy and independent in their own homes, potentially reducing costs of hospitalization and institutional spending. The need for the government to improve funding is essential for the lives of area seniors.
