Aging and disability assessment waitlists
Summary
After a staffing crisis left thousands waiting months for care assessments, the county's 80 new hires have cut the backlog from about 2,500 to just over 500, with most waits now within the state's 20-day rule. Developmental disability assessments still take about seven months, and a summer surge team is working to fix that.
At a glance
- Total mentions
- 2
- Last 30 days
- 0
Last discussed Sep 1, 2026.
Impact analysis
The 80 positions were already budgeted; the staffing push ended overtime use and is expected to reduce county cost share for state facility stays.
Residents with disabilities and older adults waiting for services, plus providers who get reimbursed faster.
Residents awaiting developmental disability waiver assessments still face roughly seven-month waits.
Mentions & discussions (2)
Budget Committee of the Whole — September 1, 2026
A huge turnaround: wait lists for long-term care assessments shrank from about 2,500 people (with 11-12 month waits) to under 70, after the board funded 80 new staff. The developmental disability waiver backlog fell from seven months to one. A board workshop with a full update comes September 22.
Board of Commissioners — June 2, 2026
After a staffing crisis left thousands waiting months for care assessments, the county's 80 new hires have cut the backlog from about 2,500 to just over 500, with most waits now within the state's 20-day rule. Developmental disability assessments still take about seven months, and a summer surge team is working to fix that.
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