WASHINGTON, D.C. — On Wednesday, U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA), Chairman of the Senate Special Committee on Aging, celebrated the passage of the Older Americans Act Reauthorization Act out of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee. Originally enacted in 1965, the Older Americans Act (OAA) funds essential programs for older adults, including Meals on Wheels, senior community centers, and home- and community-based services.
“Since its passage, the Older Americans Act has served as the foundation for community social services for older adults—from funding Meals on Wheels to local senior centers to home and community-based caregiving,” said Chairman Casey. “While this OAA reauthorization could have gone farther to support older Americans, it is an important, bipartisan bill that sustains vital programs and strengthens support for long-term care residents, grandparents raising grandchildren, and low-income seniors. Our Nation’s older adults have fought in our wars, raised our families, and built our communities—they deserve our support as they age.”
Key Provisions in the Reauthorization
Senator Casey was instrumental in including several important provisions in the reauthorization act:
Strengthening Advocacy for Long-Term Care Residents
The reauthorization includes measures from Casey’s Strengthening Advocacy for Long-Term Care Residents Act. These provisions aim to enhance the Long-Term Care Ombudsman program, which advocates for the residents of long-term care facilities. The bill reinstates a National Director, improves volunteer recruitment, and commissions a study to assess the needs of older adults in these facilities.
Supporting Grandparents Raising Grandchildren
The bill expands support for grandparents raising grandchildren, recognizing the unique challenges they face. It extends federal support for grandfamilies to include children up to age 22 if they are enrolled in education. Previously, support was limited to children up to age 18. The bill also prolongs the Supporting Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Advisory Council and focuses on the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and the opioid crisis on these families.
Improving Access to Nutritious Meals for Seniors
Provisions in the bill promote the delivery of medically tailored meals to meet seniors’ specific dietary needs. It also allows more flexibility in meal delivery by expanding grab-and-go meal options, an innovation developed during the COVID-19 pandemic to cater to community needs better.
Enhancing Lives and Strengthening Communities
The reauthorization of the Older Americans Act is crucial for maintaining and enhancing the support systems that millions of older adults rely on daily. By addressing the needs of long-term care residents, grandparents raising grandchildren, and low-income seniors, the act aims to provide a more robust safety net for some of the most vulnerable populations.
Strengthening the Long-Term Care Ombudsman program ensures that residents receive quality care and that their rights are protected. Expanded support for grandfamilies acknowledges the increasing number of grandparents stepping in as primary caregivers, often due to crises like the opioid epidemic. Enhancing meal programs ensures that seniors receive nutritious meals tailored to their health needs, promoting better overall wellbeing.
The passage of this reauthorization act out of the HELP Committee represents a significant step forward in supporting older Americans. As it moves to the Senate floor, the act’s provisions stand to benefit millions, emphasizing the nation’s commitment to caring for those who have contributed so much to society.
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