CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. (KFVS) – The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services is gathering input from residents about the services they provide by holding several town meetings across the state, including one right here in Cape Girardeau.

According to the department, the idea is for residents in the Show Me State to have access to necessary programs and services to help those aged in their communities in a safe and healthy manner.

”We’re really getting to hear from the Missourians that live these experiences right, so we want to know what their current experiences are, what they believe they’re going to need in the next ten years and then what big ideas and what they’re going to need d like to see in the future for their services and programs available–what the state can do, what the cities can do, counties all to prepare for the aging population,” said Mindy Ulstad, Chief of the Dept. of Health and Senior Services.

A few of the topics discussed at the event included transportation, healthy life choices, employment and daily life, safety and financial security.

Ulstad said hearing from residents across the state helped them to identify what the needs were.

“We want to make sure that the plan that’s developed really fits the needs of Missourians, so if we don’t hear from them, we’re not going to be able to do that, so we need to hear from them and we actually have a couple of ways to do that,” Ulstad said. “But the town halls are really going to be the best way because they can speak directly to us. We’re gonna take all of this information and put it together so we’ll have regional information and statewide information based on what Missourians are telling us and we can make sure we develop a plan that’s gonna try and meet those needs.”

If you weren’t able to come out to the Show Me Center today to give feedback, there will be another opportunity at two virtual town halls on March 21.

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