国会研究服务部-美国老年人法案：概述和资助（英文）-2021.4-30页_1mb

Older Americans Act: Summary

Core Content

The Older Americans Act (OAA) is a federal law that supports a wide range of social services and programs for individuals aged 60 and older. It was first enacted in 1965 and has been reauthorized and amended multiple times, with the most recent reauthorization being the Supporting Older Americans Act of 2020 (P.L. 116-131), which authorizes appropriations through FY2024. The OAA is administered by the Administration on Aging (AOA) within the Administration for Community Living (ACL) of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), except for Title V, which is administered by the Department of Labor (DOL).

The OAA includes seven titles, each focusing on different aspects of aging services, including policy objectives, administrative functions, nutrition and supportive services, training and research, employment opportunities, and elder rights protection. The FY2021 discretionary appropriations total $2.129 billion, with additional $1.609 billion in supplemental funding for the COVID-19 response.

Main Titles and Key Provisions

Title I: Declaration of Objectives; Definitions

• Sets out broad social policy objectives aimed at improving the lives of older Americans, including adequate income, health, and long-term care services.
• Provides definitions for terms used throughout the OAA.
• Does not authorize appropriations.

Title II: Administration on Aging

• Establishes the Administration on Aging (AOA) as the federal agency responsible for OAA administration.
• Creates State and Territorial Units on Aging (SUAs) and Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) to plan, coordinate, and deliver services.
• Funds Aging and Disability Resource Centers (ADRCs) and Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) Program.
• Discretionary funding: $41.1 million in FY2021.
• Supplemental funding for ADRCs: $50 million from the CARES Act, available until September 30, 2021.

Title III: Grants for State and Community Programs on Aging

• Authorizes grants to SUAs and AAAs to provide supportive services, nutrition services, family caregiver support, and health promotion.
• Discretionary funding: $1.558 billion in FY2021.
• Supplemental funding: $1.567 billion added under the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 and the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.
• Funding allocation:
  • Congregate nutrition: $5.0 million increase.
  • Home-delivered nutrition: $10.0 million increase.
  • National Family Caregiver Support Program: $3.0 million added.
  • Supportive Services and Senior Centers: $2.5 million added.
• Flexible fund transfers: SUAs can transfer up to 40% between congregate and home-delivered nutrition services, and up to 30% between nutrition and supportive services.
• Targeted services: Aimed at low-income, minority, and rural older individuals.
• 2019 data: Served approximately 10.9 million older persons.

Title IV: Activities for Health, Independence, and Longevity

• Funds training, research, and demonstration projects related to aging.
• Includes the Alzheimer’s Disease Program, which received $27.5 million in FY2021 (discretionary: $12.8 million, mandatory: $14.7 million).
• Discretionary funding: $42.0 million in FY2021.
• Key programs:
  • National Resource Centers on Native American Elders: $655,000.
  • National Minority Aging Organizations Technical Assistance Centers: $1.2 million.
  • Program Performance and Technical Assistance: $1.7 million.
  • Holocaust Survivor’s Assistance: $5.0 million.
  • Care Corps Grants: $4.0 million.
  • Elder Justice/Adult Protective Services (APS): $14.0 million.
• Additional funding: $7.0 million added, including $4.0 million for Care Corps grants and $2.0 million for Elder Justice/APS.

Title V: Community Service Senior Opportunities Act (CSEOA)

• Provides part-time employment opportunities for low-income individuals aged 55 and older with poor employment prospects.
• Administered by the Department of Labor.
• Discretionary funding: $405.0 million in FY2021.
• Nonfederal match: 10% required.
• Program year: July 1 to June 30.
• Projected participants for PY2020: 56,050.
• Wages: No less than the federal, state, or local minimum wage.
• Additional services: Training, physical exams, counseling, and transportation.

Title VI: Grants for Services for Native Americans

• Provides supportive and nutrition services for older Native Americans.
• Funds transportation, home-delivered meals, information and referral, and caregiver support.
• Discretionary funding: $35.2 million for supportive and nutrition services, $10.8 million for family caregivers.
• Supplemental funding for FY2021: $32 million added for pandemic response.
• Eligibility: Tribal organizations must represent at least 50 Native Americans aged 60 and older.

Title VII: Vulnerable Elder Rights Protection Activities

• Supports the long-term care ombudsman program and elder abuse prevention programs.
• Discretionary funding: $23.7 million in FY2021.
• Supplemental funding for FY2021: $10.0 million added for pandemic response.
• 2019 data: Ombudsmen handled over 198,500 resident complaints and provided 559,000 consultations.

Key Funding Information

FY2021 Discretionary Appropriations

• Total: $2.129 billion.
• Breakdown by title:
  • Title III: 73.2% ($1.558 billion).
  • Title V: 19.0% ($405.0 million).
  • Title II: 2.6% ($41.1 million).
  • Title IV: 2.0% ($42.0 million).
  • Title VI: 2.2% ($35.2 million for supportive and nutrition services; $10.8 million for family caregivers).
  • Title VII: 1.1% ($23.7 million).

Additional Funding for FY2021 (COVID-19 Response)

• Total: $1.609 billion.
• Sources:
  • Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA): $250.0 million.
  • CARES Act: $870.0 million.
  • Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021: $175.0 million for ADRCs.
  • American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA): $1.434 billion for nutrition, supportive services, and elder rights protection.

Key Figures and Trends

• Total OAA funding for FY2021: $2.129 billion.
• Aging Network: Composed of 56 SUAs, 622 AAAs, and over 260 tribal and Native Hawaiian organizations.
• ADRCs: 1,322 access points nationwide.
• SMP Program: Funded via the HCFAC account with a minimum of $20.0 million in FY2021.
• SCSEP Participants: Projected to be 56,050 in PY2020.
• OAA Funding History: Provided in Table A-1, showing budget authority from FY2014 to FY2021.
• OAA Funding Trends: Illustrated in Figure 3, showing total funding from FY2011 to FY2021.

Summary of Key Programs and Activities

Conclusion

The OAA provides a comprehensive framework for supporting older Americans through a variety of services, including nutrition, supportive care, employment, and rights protection. The law has evolved over time to address emerging needs, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, with significant supplemental funding provided to enhance program capacity and reach. The FY2021 appropriations reflect a continued commitment to improving the quality of life for older individuals, with Title III receiving the largest share of funding.