FOREWORD The passage of the Older Americans Act in 1965 signified the emergence of aging as a major national policy area and served to stimulate increased public interest and responsiveness to the needs of older Americans. Through the years, the need for these programs has intensified as our aging population has grown in relationship to other age groups in our country. The primary objective of the Act, at its inception and today, is to assist older individuals to live independently in their own homes for as long as possible. Community services such as the meals programs, transportation services, adult day care, and homemaking assistance enable many hundreds of thousands to remain in their homes and communities, delaying institutionalization for as long as possible. These programs also make available companionship and a nutritional meal to many others who might otherwise go hungry rather than prepare and eat a meal in solitude. Numbers and money alone cannot express the value of the state area agencies on aging's activities and commitment to their clients. Each day many older citizens are touched, and we are a better nation for it. The categorical programs as originally provided by the Act have been proven over the past several years. As needs for the elderly have changed, so have the programs been modified to meet those needs, such as the 1984 amendments referring to community services for victims of Alzheimer's disease and special training for those who will care for such individuals. It is hoped that this report will provide all older Americans and those serving them with an understanding of these and other recent program adjustments. The Subcommittee on Human Services appreciates the efforts of all those Members, service providers, and Administration officials who foresaw a need and participated in 1984 amendment process. OLYMPIA J. SNOWE, Ranking Minority Member, Subcommittee on Human Services. (V) FOREWORD Each year, more and more Americans reach the age of 65. For many of these senior citizens, acquiring the most basic needs of food and shelter is an arduous and financially draining endeavor. Too often, the elderly find themselves alone, destitute, and neglected. When these older Americans are no longer able to maintain the comfortable, dignified way of life which they deserve, the Government has an essential moral obligation to assist them. For this reason, Congress established the Older Americans Act in 1965, and it has since become the primary social services program for the elderly, with projects as diverse as the National Nutrition Program, multipurpose senior citizen centers, and community service employment efforts. Presently, the Older Americans Act has a dramatic impact on the lives of thousands of elderly citizens every day. The committee is reprinting the Older Americans Act at this time because of the extensive and significant changes made by Congress in the last few years. These amendments have served both to improve coordination of the multitude of existing programs on the local, State, and national level, and to implement new programs. It is my belief that the numerous alterations to the Older Americans Act demonstrate Congress' sustained interest in the needs and desires of the American elderly. I hope this booklet will alert Government officials, interested citizens, and older Americans to the many programs available to the aged. I hope, too, that government at all levels will continue attempts to ease the lives of this Nation's elderly, the most vulnerable and rapidly increasing segment of our population. EDWARD R. ROYBAL, Chairman, House Select Committee on Aging. (VII) CONTENTS Title I-Declaration of Objectives......... Title II-Administration on Aging. Functions and organizational status of the Administration on Aging National Information and Resource Clearinghouse for the Aging. Title III-Grants for State and Community Programs on Aging..... Title V-Community Service Employment for Older Americans. |