The Older Americans Act is an important entity within United States policy to the field of aging. It is a piece of legislature that ensures older adults receive the services and care that they need to live independently and with good health.
The OAA was first passed in Congress almost 60 years ago, in 1965, when there was a growing concern amongst policymakers over a lack of community social services for older adults. In its original form, the legislation was designed to be a way for grants to reach states to fund social services, relevant research and development projects, and personnel training in the field of aging. With the OAA also came the creation of the Administration on Aging (AOA), an agency within the U.S Department of Health and Human Services, which would carry out the provisions of the Older Americans Act. In 2012, the AOA was brought together with the Office on Disability, and the Administration on Developmental Disabilities, to create the Administration for Community Living (ACL).
Over half a century since its inception, the Older Americans Act is up for reauthorization. This is a relatively common occurrence, wherein existing laws are revisited by Congress for reauthorization, including necessary updates to its program, structure and more. It was last reauthorized in 2020 to proceed through the 2024 fiscal year. The 2024 reauthorization of the OAA has already been brought to the Senate, but has yet to reach its reauthorization. Prior to its introduction to Congress, the ACL released its Final Rule, a comprehensive overview of updates to the implementation of programs under the OAA. For a full account of this Final Rule, we encourage you to visit the ACL website, here.
As this incredibly important piece of legislature proceeds in its reauthorization, the National Hispanic Council on Aging encourages our community to arm themselves with knowledge on the topic. Many of the programs that serve the older adults of our community and the entire country, are thanks to the OAA. Specifically, Title II of the OAA speaks on entities known as “Area Agencies on Aging,” (AAAs) organizations that serve to oversee the implementation and coordination of social, nutrition, and long-term services and support for older individuals. The National Hispanic Council on Aging is one such entity. In fact, a 2023 survey of AAAs found that 42% are independent nonprofit agencies, like NHCOA. These are the same organizations charged with carrying out research and development efforts to lead innovation within the field of aging.
The ACL and the Older Americans Act are two integral pieces of a system that delivers adequate services and care to the United States’ Aging population. The OAA is the vehicle for such programs as the Older Adults’ Equity Collaborative (OAEC), which oversees the implementation of five different ACL-funded national Minority Aging Technical Assistance and Resource Centers (TARCs), including NHCOA’s Resource Center, which serves a pipeline of information, service, and assistance to Hispanic/Latino older adults.
US policy and the infrastructure of social services can seem like a complex spider web, composed of overlapping administrations, legislative bodies, programs, and organizations. Such a complicated machine can be hard to understand and keep up with, but knowing the vehicles for the programs built to serve your community is hugely important.
To support the 2024 Reauthorization of the Older Americans Act, let your representatives know what matters to you! You can find the members of Congress that represent your region by following the link here, to https://www.congress.gov/members/find-your-member.
Send a letter! Send a text! Make your voice heard.
References:
– “S.4776 – Older Americans Act Reauthorization Act of 2024,” United States Congress. Congress.gov. https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/senate-bill/4776/all-actions – “Older Americans Act,” Administration for Community Living. https://acl.gov/about-acl/authorizing-statutes/older-americans-act
– “2024 Final Rule to Update Older Americans Act Regulations,” Administration for Community Living. https://acl.gov/OAArule
– Colello, Kirsten J. and Napili, Angela. “Older Americans Act Overview and Funding,” Summary. Congressional Research Service. https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/R/R43414
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