It’s not as well-known as Medicare and Social Security, but the Older Americans Act (OAA) is nearly as important to older adults in the U.S.
The OAA – which will be reauthorized by Congress this year, which means now is the time that changes and improvements can be made – organizes and funds many of the public programs that support older adults. Meals programs, senior centers, long-term care ombudsmen, caregiver support, employment programs, health promotion programs, in-home care, and much, much more come under the OAA umbrella. Structurally, the OAA funds the U.S. Administration on Aging, which funds the State Units on Aging, which fund the local Area Agencies on Aging, which provide or contract for the wide array of community-based services older adults use. Continue reading
