After a decades-long wait, home care providers will soon be able to take advantage of new senior care resources made available by sweeping updates to the Older Americans Act.
“Bold investments in the OAA infrastructure and the services supported by it are essential,” Katie Smith Sloan, president and chief executive officer of LeadingAge, said in a letter to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) on March 21. “We are already desperately behind in prioritizing the needs of our aging population.”
In February, the Administration for Community Living finalized a rule to modernize the OAA — the first major change made to the legislation in more than 35 years, according to the ACL. Among its provisions, the rule made permanent various flexibilities instituted during the COVID-19 pandemic, including carry-out meals for seniors. The rule’s main priority, according to ACL, is to help seniors receive enough support to age comfortably at home and in their communities.
On March 7, the Senate HELP Committee issued a request for information seeking input from aging care stakeholders regarding the OAA. The lawmakers specifically sought feedback on the effectiveness of these pandemic-era flexibilities in helping seniors age in place.
In its response, LeadingAge voiced its support for the programs made possible by the OAA.
“LeadingAge supports increased investment and program flexibility for in-home and community-based providers that allow older adults to age in the setting of their choice,” Sloan wrote. “We applaud the finalized rule that codifies many of the flexibilities permitted during the Public Health Emergency, such as grab and go meals for pick-up at congregate settings. We encourage continued opportunities for provider innovation that allows them to meet the needs of older adults more fully.”
The letter also noted that OAA programs require strong, sustained funding for them to be effective. Stagnant or small funding increases for OAA, LeadingAge said, would only exacerbate issues with older adults’ access to aging care resources.
“The populations that need these types of services are only growing,” Sloan said. “Stagnant funding is not an option.”
