Older Americans Act (OAA)

This document lays out Arizona’s state plan on aging. It describes the demographics of the aging population and the goals and strategies for adhering to Older Americans Act stipulations. As one of its goals, the Division of Aging and Adult Services (DAAS) has improving accessibility to integrated care. Some of the core programs and services include Independent Living Support Services (ILS), Adult Protective Services (APS), and Community Services.

This document is the result of an 18-month process undertaken by the Alaska Commission on Aging to include the elder/senior communities of Alaska for input on the direction of senior services. Alaska’s state plan draws on values of respect, cultural-sensitivity, and dignity. The plan lists the different Older Americans Act programs implemented in Alaska with descriptions. Some of these are home and community-based services and the nutrition, transportation, and support services grant programs.

This document lays out the State of Alabama’s plan on aging in accordance to Older Americans Act requirements. The plan describes the mission and strategies of the Alabama Department of Senior Services (ADSS) and how it plans to coordinate supportive services given funding restrictions. The FY11-12 plan has its goals promoting independence for its aging population and enabling seniors to remain in their homes via home and community-based services.

This document offers recommendations for improving the efficiency and effectiveness of Older Americans Act (OAA) services upon its reauthorization. Recommendations are made under each Title of the Act. More general recommendations include increasing interaction and coordination with other federal programs that deliver services for older adults such as the Low-Income Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), Senior Corps, and Adult Protective Services.

This Fact Sheet highlights some of the most important features of the Older Americans Act in providing quality home care. Some areas of the OAA that are covered include supportive services, nutrition services, caregiver support services, the Senior Community Service Employment Program, the Long-Term Care Ombudsman program, and funding for OAA services.

This report serves as a follow-up to the 1995 Institute on Medicine (IOM) report which argued for an ombudsman program to address the quality of care in long-term institutional settings. This study investigates the role and effectiveness of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman Programs (LTCOPs) in improving care. Surveys with all states/territories reveal new findings on the structure of the program in different states as well as their own perceived effectiveness. Comprehensive data and analysis.

The Older Americans Act of 1965 created the National Aging Network with many states adopting Area Agencies on Aging at the local level. This brief is a summary of two surveys regarding states’ monitoring practices of their Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) and states’ spending rules for their AAAs. All states with Area Agencies on Aging which were surveyed reported that they conduct some monitoring, and most differed in their rules concerning excess funds.

This report advocates for a stronger, more rigorous research approach in Title IV (Activities for Health, Independence, and Longevity-Program Innovations) of the Older Americans Act. Title IV authorizes the Assistant Secretary for Aging to fund training, research, and demonstration projects, which Congress did not fund in FY 2012. Recommendations include creating a new Chief Science Officer, establishing a national advisory council for aging services program research, and renaming Title IV.

This document sets forth the State of Vermont's plan on aging in accordance with Older Americans Act requirements. The plan describes the mission and strategies of Vermont's State Unit on Aging (SUA) to coordinate services for older adults. The Plan contains information on aging demographics, the mission for the duration of the plan, and sets out goals to empower older adults to be more independent, promote wellness, and expand home and community-based services.

Older Americans Adults (OAA) reauthorization presents a unique opportunity to make significant improvements to the advocacy provisions under the Act. This paper presents three dimensions and five principles that form the basis of advocacy under the OAA, and it offers seven recommendations to strengthen advocacy within the next OAA reauthorization. Virtually every program and funding stream created by the OAA requires that the entire aging network advocate on behalf of older Americans.