Seniors on the Mendocino Coast and across the country have been focused on preserving the Older Americans Act, a 60-year-old law that underpins vital services including food and transportation.
While Older Americans Act has not yet been reauthorized, policy analysts at USAging, the national organization that represents Area Agencies on Aging, said the phone calls, letter writing, and day of actions are having an impact. The Area Agencies on Aging are mandated by the act to implement that act’s programs.
Amy Gotwals, the public policy and external affairs chief at USAging, said the president’s budget recommends that funding stays the same for most of the Older American Act programs.
“It’s alright in the president’s budget but that’s only the beginning of the process,” she said. “Congress will make the ultimate decision.”
Lobbyists for older Americans were initially concerned when by a restructuring proposal that would have sent all programs, except nutrition programs, to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. This did not happen. Supplemental budget materials released on in late May revealed all the Older Americans Act programs continue to be housed in the Health and Human Services Agency.
The budget process is continuing, and leaders of the push for reauthorization of the act are urging seniors to continue their appeals.
In Fort Bragg, the Senior Center has launched an SOS funding campaign. They are creating an SOS fund to make sure no one goes hungry. If the act is reauthorized, the funding will be set aside for future needs.
