Almost all seniors are aware of the Social Security and Medicare programs. Both these programs were created by acts of Congress, but do you know about a third Congressional Act that is of great importance to seniors? It is the Older Americans Act.
The Older Americans Act (OAA) provides critical services that help about 11 million older adults live as independently as possible. These services include home-delivered and congregate meals, family caregiver support, in-home assistance, preventive health services and other supportive services. States receive OAA funds according to a formula based on their share of America’s senior population. As you would expect, Florida is a major beneficiary of this program. In fact, Florida receives the second highest dollar amount of any state, more than 105 million dollars in 2018. Only California benefits more from the OAA.
States are required to target services to seniors with the greatest economic and social needs. These services are effective in many ways, two of the most important being nutrition and helping family caregivers continue to function.
In 2016, 146 million home-delivered meals (“Meals On Wheels”) were delivered to seniors, while congregate meals were served to older adults in group settings like senior centers, churches, and senior housing communities. In 2017, nearly half of congregate meal recipients lived alone, and these meals gave seniors a chance to socialize. Many participants report seeing friends more often due to the meal.
In the field of caregiving, the National Family Caregiver Support Program (NFCSP), created in 2000 under the Older Americans Act, has been a boon to seniors and their caregivers. This federal program made it possible for states to address matters relating to the service and support needs of families in their caregiving roles. The program provides information to caregivers about available services, individual counseling, support groups and caregiver training, respite care, and supplemental services.
Creation of the OAA and the NFCSP were great accomplishments, but if Congress does not act, this legislation will expire on September 30, 2019. Right now, highly visible issues surrounding the coming 2020 elections occupy much of Congress’s attention. The Older Americans Act should not be a party matter, it is a matter of national responsibility. Funding for the OAA has increased only 1.1 percent annually from 2001 to 2019. This funding level over the past 18 years failed to keep pace with population growth and inflation; adjusting for both, it fell by 16 percent. Meanwhile, the senior population grew by 63 percent since 2001, and it will grow even faster in the future. The need grows, while the response shrinks.
If you are concerned about this issue, express your opinion to both of your United States Senators and your Representative in the House. The contact information in our June 24 article will help. If you do not know the name of your Representative in the House, go to Find Your Representative and enter your zip code.
For help with in-home care, contact one of our partners and Approved Vendors:
- Partners in Healthcare in Orlando at 407-604-4510. See their OurSeniors.net webpage at
Partners in Healthcare in OurSeniors.net - Plan Life Care of Daytona at 386-267-6898. See their OurSeniors.net webpage at
Plan Life Care in OurSeniors.net
For information about any senior-related need, you may contact an OurSeniors.net Advisor by phone at 866-333-2657 (se habla Español), or by using Contact Us. Check out our website at Ourseniors.net and take an online look at our senior living magazine, OurSeniors.net Magazine. You can view the entire OurSeniors.net Directory of Approved Vendors
