Legislation to reauthorize the Older Americans Act for an additional five years was introduced last week, including several provisions that Argentum has supported to promote socialization and combat isolation.
The legislation, S. 2120, was introduced by Senate HELP Chair Bill Cassidy and Ranking Member Bernie Sanders, Aging Chair Rick Scott and Ranking Member Kirsten Gillibrand, Appropriations Chair Susan Collins, and Senators Tim Kaine, Markwayne Mullin, Ed Markey, Lisa Murkowski, and Ben Ray Lujan.
Notably, Title II of the legislation, Improving Health Outcomes and Encouraging Independence for Older Individuals, contains critical elements to address social isolation and loneliness. Title II’s overall focus is on reducing social isolation incorporates elements of the Social Engagement and Network Initiatives for Older Relief (SENIOR) Act (S. 473), and Section 207 references multigenerational care programs that Argentum has advocated in legislation such as the Care Across Generations Act (H.R. 1812).
First enacted in 1965 and last reauthorized in 2020, the OAA serves more than 10 million Americans each year through supportive services, congregate nutrition services, home-delivered nutrition services, family caregiver support, the long-term care ombudsman program, and services to prevent the abuse, neglect, and exploitation of older persons. The newly introduced reauthorization would extend OAA programs through fiscal year 2030.
Argentum has urged lawmakers to advance a reauthorization of the OAA, and last year hosted a Congressional briefing in partnership with the House 21st Century Long-Term Care Caucus on the need to reauthorize the OAA.
