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Summary:
The Older Americans Act (OAA) is the major federal vehicle for the delivery of social and nutrition services for older persons. Originally enacted in 1965, the act supports a wide range of social services for older persons; the congregate and homedelivered nutrition program; caregiver support services; community service employment; the long-term care ombudsman program; services to prevent abuse; neglect and exploitation of older persons; grants to Native Americans; and research, training and demonstration activities in the field of aging. Authorization of appropriations for the act were extended through FY2005 by P.L. 106-501, signed into law on November 13, 2000. The act is scheduled for review for reauthorization by the 109th Congress. The act establishes the Administration on Aging (AoA) within the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) which administers all of the act's programs except for the community service employment program, administered by the Department of Labor (DOL). The original legislation in 1965 established AoA within the then-Department of Health, Education, and Welfare (HEW) and established a state grant program for community planning and services programs as well as authority for research, demonstration, and training programs. The act has been amended 14 times since the original legislation was enacted. Major amendments included the creation of the national nutrition program for the elderly in 1972 and the network of area agencies on aging in 1973 under Title III. Other amendments established the long-term care ombudsman program and a separate grant program for older Native Americans in 1978; and a number of additional service programs under the state and area agency on aging program, including programs to prevent elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation, and health promotion and disease prevention programs, among others, in 1987. The 1992 amendments created Title VII, authorizing programs that focus on protection of the rights of vulnerable older persons, including the long-term care ombudsman program, and services to prevent elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation (under prior law authorized under Title III). The 2000 amendments enacted the National Family Caregiver Support Program under Title III, and required the President to convene a White House Conference on Aging by December 2005. This report presents an appropriations history of the act from FY1966, the first time the act's programs received funds, through FY2004. This report will be updated as appropriations legislation is enacted. For appropriations action during the 108th Congress and more detailed information about the act, see CRS Report RL31336, Older Americans Act: Programs and Funding.
