The Older Americans Act Is Not Keeping Pace With Today’s Older Adults

In 1965, the Older Americans Act was a beacon of successful bipartisan legislation to address the social, economic and health needs of older Americans on a national level. Nearly 60 years later, the act has changed little, yet life for older adults and what it takes for them to thrive has changed significantly.

This fall, the act is up for reauthorization — providing Congress an opportunity to give it a long overdue modernization to ensure it can meet the needs of older Americans today.

As the president and CEO of Grantmakers In Health, an adult caring for my aging mother, and someone who spent nearly a decade working at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, I’m familiar with the needs of older adults and the benefits of programs like Medicare, Medicaid and the Older Americans Act, as well as their shortcomings.

View GIH Bulletin: May/June 2024

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