Older Americans Act

The Older Americans Act (OAA) provides home and community-based services, such as nutrition, transportation, legal assistance, elder abuse prevention, and caregiver support, to older adults and their caregivers. Thus, it is cross-sectorial in scope. It was enacted in 1965 and is administered by the Department of Health and Human Services, through its Administration on Aging. The OAA covers older adults aged 60 and above with a special focus on those with the greatest economic and social needs, especially low-income, minority, rural, and Native American elders. The key features and implementation of the OAA include the provision of grants to States and territories based on their share of the older population, the establishment of a national network of aging services and programs, the creation of the ACL as the federal focal point on matters concerning older persons, and the authorization of various titles that address specific needs and issues of older adults. The OAA is periodically reauthorized by Congress to update its provisions and funding levels. The most recent reauthorization was in 2020, which extended the OAA programs through 2024 and included new provisions to enhance the quality and accessibility of services.