Supporting Older Americans Act of 2020

The Supporting Older Americans Act of 2020 is the reauthorization of the Older Americans Act (OAA). The objectives of the act are to modernize and improve the OAA programs, address the needs and preferences of older adults, and reflect the input of various stakeholders. The institutions involved in the act include the Administration for Community Living, the state and area agencies on ageing, and the service providers. The scope of the act covers older individuals who are at risk of losing their independence due to poor health, disability, or social isolation, with priority given to those with the greatest economic or social need. The act includes the reauthorization and revision of various OAA titles, such as supportive services, nutrition services, caregiver support, elder justice, and Native American programs. The act also introduces new provisions, such as statutory authority for the National Resource Center for Women and Retirement, a demonstration project for recruiting and retaining direct care workers, and increased funding for disease prevention and health promotion activities. The outputs of the act are expected to improve the quality of life, health outcomes, and to reduce the demand for costly institutional care. The act was signed into law in 2020.