Policy Analysis Essay Older Americans Act

Abstract

In 1965, Congress created and successfully implemented the Older Americans Act, which is now more commonly known as the Supporting Older Americans Act. This is a federal program, used nation-wide, specifically designed to meet an array of social services needs that low-income older Americans often require (NHI, (n.d.)). These support services in place include congregate and home delivery of meals, specialized transportation services, employment and volunteer programs, adult day care, senior centers, and long-term care activities (Price-Carter, 2020). The Supporting Older Americans Act and all of its reauthorized programming efforts remain in effect until fiscal year 2024 when the act will again be up for reapproval. With its most recent approval in 2020, Congress also approved supplemental funding allocated for additional COVID-19 relief efforts (Price-Carter, 2020). Currently, over 11 million older Americans along with their caregivers continue to benefit from this program (NHI, (n.d.)).