(Canastota, NY – June 2015) On June 19, U.S. Representative Richard Hanna called on Congress to pass a five-year renewal of programs that address transportation, nutrition and community programs for senior citizens.
Hanna was at Stoneleigh Apartments in Canastota to push for the reauthorization of the Older Americans Act. The Act focuses on nutrition programs such as Meals on Wheels, transportation services, support for family caregivers, as well as community service and job training and services to prevent senior abuse and neglect. Originally enacted in 1965, the Older Americans Act supports a wide range of social services and programs for individuals 60 years or older.
He is not only calling for the renewal, but leading the push and will officially re-introduce the measure in the coming weeks.
“These programs are the lifeline for many of our senior citizens,” Hanna said. “Our district has a large senior citizen population that relies on such services. We must ensure the federal government is authorizing the resources necessary to provide our seniors with the protection they deserve.”
The Older Americans Act provides nearly $2 billion annually in services for America’s seniors. Services like home-delivered and congregate meals, family caregiver support, in-home assistance, preventive health services, transportation, job training, protection from abuse helps about 11 million older adults stay as independent as possible.
“As the aging population rapidly grows, our nation must ensure that resources are in place to help older adults and caregivers tap into available supports that allow for aging individuals to remain in their own homes with maximum health, independence and dignity,” Hanna said. “Simply put reauthorization is not only necessary, it is the right thing to do.”
Funding Highlights:
Access to Services
– Outreach, information and assistance regarding benefits
– Care management
– Transportation
Nutrition
– Congregate and home-delivered meals
– Nutrition counseling and education
Home and Community-Based Services
– Home Care, Personal Care
– Adult Day Care
– Family Caregiver Support
Disease Prevention & Health Promotion
Examples:
– Physical Fitness
– Chronic Disease Self-Management
– Immunizations
Vulnerable Elder Rights Protection
– Long-Term Care Ombudsman
– Prevention of Eder Abuse, Neglect, Exploitation
ABOUT THE ACT
H.R. 3850, the Older Americans Act Reauthorization of 2014 was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives on Jan. 10, 2014. It was referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce for consideration. Authorization for the Older American’s Act was last reauthorized in 2006 through Fiscal Year 2011. A long-term authorization will ensure that these vital services that Seniors in Central New York count on do not lapse.
Rep. Hanna is leading the push to reintroduce the Act during the 114th Congress and will officially announce its reintroduction in the coming weeks.