Issue Area: Community Services

The Older Americans Act

For more than 50 years, the Older Americans Act (OAA) has provided critical social and nutrition services for seniors aged 60 and older, as well as their caregivers. OAA services and supports allow our nation’s most vulnerable seniors to remain healthier and independent at home, out of hospitals and nursing homes.

Read this one-pager to learn more about this vital legislation, our aging population and the actions Congress to take to strengthen the health and well-being of older adults, their families and communities across the country. (Updated April 2018.)

The Growing Role of the Aging Network in Improving Health Care and Reducing Costs Issue Brief

Our nation’s demographic shift is challenging our long-term care and health systems, requiring that we re-examine the way we finance and provide services for older Americans. Given this reality, it is time to invest in the low-cost, community-based services that stabilize health care costs and enable older adults to remain in their homes and communities.

Read this issue brief to learn more about the history of the aging network, the growth of senior population and how further investments in social, nutrition and other community supports can help bend the health care cost curve on the mandatory side of the budget. (Updated April 2018.)