Kristen LaEace: Congress should reauthorize Older Americans Act

It’s an election year, which means so much of the content we are fed through news outlets and social media seems to highlight what is wrong with government. That’s why I’m happy to celebrate a recent bipartisan success in the U.S. Senate, showcasing the positive outcomes we can achieve when dedicated community advocates, public servants and government officials work collaboratively to address complex issues.

Last month, the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee passed legislation reauthorizing the Older Americans Act in a near-unanimous vote, marking a critical step forward in the legislation’s path to the president’s desk.

While the Indiana Association of Area Agencies on Aging deeply appreciates the support of every senator and staff member who contributed to the bill’s passage, we particularly want to highlight the extraordinary efforts of our own senator, U.S. Sen. Mike Braun, and his staff for their diligent efforts and collaboration in moving this conversation forward.

For those unfamiliar with the Older Americans Act, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed this landmark legislation into law in 1965 as part of his “Great Society” initiative. The act designates Area Agencies on Aging—or AAAs—as local community leaders in enabling older Americans to age in their homes and communities rather than in an institution.

Through the funding of eligible services and resources—including paid in-home caregivers, nutrition assistance, transportation, home modifications, family caregiver respite, health and wellness education, care management, options counseling and other supportive services—the act and its local AAA partners are critical for many older adults who otherwise would be unable to thrive in their homes and communities. Moreover, investments in home- and community-based services for older adults save taxpayers’ money, as the cost of institutional care almost always exceeds that of home-based services.

As with all federally funded programs, Congress must periodically reauthorize the Older Americans Act to address the changing needs of older adults and incorporate opportunities for improvement such as innovations AAAs realized during the pandemic. With the act’s current expiration date of Sept. 30, our association and our partners at USAging have spent several months advocating for the act’s reauthorization.

Thanks specifically to Braun and his staff, we were successful in making several improvements to the program through dialogue and collaboration with each of our Hoosier AAAs. Should the legislation pass in its current form, several provisions within the bill will offer Indiana AAAs additional independence and flexibility to better serve the unique needs of older adults in their communities. We thank Braun for his work in advancing this critical legislation.

The Older Americans Act Reauthorization Act of 2024 is now eligible for a full vote in the U.S. Senate before making its way to the U.S. House of Representatives for consideration. As we await further movement of the legislation, we look forward to working with all members of the Indiana delegation, in both the House and Senate, to ensure its full passage.•

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LaEace is CEO of the Indiana Association of Area Agencies on Aging.