09 Apr 2010
The 2011 Reauthorization of the Older Americans Act
250 Braodway
01:00 PM to 04:00 PM Archived Video
Senate standing committee ON AGING
Senator Rubén Díaz, Sr., Chair
___________________________________________________________________
Notice of public hearing
Friday, April 9, 2010
250 Broadway, New York City - Senate Hearing Room, 19th Floor
1:00 P.M. to 4:00 P.M.
SUBJECT: The 2011 Reauthorization of the Older Americans Act
PURPOSE: This public hearing will accept oral and written testimony from interested participants regarding the 2011 reauthorization of the Older Americans Act.
BACKGROUND: Congress passed the Older Americans Act (OAA) in 1965 which was part of the legislative agenda of LBJ's "Great Society." Since then it has been re-authorized every ten years in accordance with the newest census figures. In 2011 Congress will consider reauthorization and amendments to the OAA that will become effective in FY 2012.
The OAA provides the formula by which the United States Government distributes funds allocated by Congress to a national network of 56 State agencies on aging, 629 area agencies on aging, nearly 20,000 service providers, 244 Tribal organizations, and 2 Native Hawaiian organizations representing 400 Tribes. In New York State, the OAA provides funding to the New York State Office for the Aging for 59 area agencies on aging which are located in every county, New York City, and the Seneca Nation and St. Regis Mohawk Indian Reservations.
The OAA contains seven titles. The most common programs associated with services to the elderly, congregate and home delivered meals, supportive services and senior centers programs, disease prevention and health promotion, and family caregiver support, are funded under Title III. Other programs such as activities for health and independence, community senior service employment, elder abuse prevention, legal assistance, Native American programs, and the long-term care ombudsman are funded under Titles IV through VII.
The new Administration on Aging Assistant Secretary Kathy Greenlee recently identified her priorities as:
- Protecting and enhancing core services under OAA
- Elder Justice/Elder Abuse
- Nursing Home Diversion/ADRC nationwide expansion
- Institutionalizing innovations and pilot projects into core of the Act
- Health Promotion and Wellness, Evidence Based Interventions
Testimony should focus on recommendations that should be advanced to the Administration on Aging and the New York Congressional Delegation that further support the intent of the Older Americans Act. Testimony should describe what is working well in the aging network, what is not working well and what/how you would propose to address the issue, and ideas for additional changes to the Act, innovations that should be considered, and formal connections with other federal agencies that should be advanced. Your recommendations may include but do not need to be limited to the five priorities listed above. The Older Americans Act is a comprehensive Act and it is important to understand all the fiscal and programmatic issues that providers and individuals are encountering at the local level. Comments are welcome that address those issues to help improve the lives of older people.
Testimony is by invitation only. Please complete and submit the attached response form by Friday March 26, 2010. Written testimony should be submitted no later than Friday April 2, 2010.
