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From the Director
- Celebrating the Older American
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Advantage: is it right for me?
From the Director
Celebrating the Older American:
Reprinted from the US Administration on Aging Older Americans Month 2001 Materials
Today, one in six Americans, or 44 million people, is 60 years or older. While many older Americans are active members of their families and communities, others are at risk of losing their independence. These include:
Four million Americans ages 85 and older;
Those who are living alone without a caregiver;
Those living in nursing homes or other institutional settings;
Members of minority groups;
Older persons with physical or mental impairments;
Older persons residing in rural areas, low income older persons; and
Those who are abused, neglected, or exploited.
To meet the diverse needs of the growing numbers of older persons in the United States, the Older Americans Act created the primary vehicle for organizing, coordinating and providing community-based services and opportunities for Older Americans and their families.
The Older Americans Act of 1965 established the Administration on Aging within the Department fo Health and Human Services and when originally enacted, it authorized grants to Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) for local needs identification, planning, and funding of services. They included:
Nutrition programs in the community and for homebound elderly;
Programs for Native American elders;
Health promotion and disease prevention activities;
In-home services for frail elders; and
Services that protect the rights of older persons such as the long-term care ombudsman program.
President Clinton signed the Older Americans Act Amendments of 2000 (Public Law 106-501) into law on November 13, 2000, extending the Act’s programs through fiscal year 2005. The final measure, supported by many major aging advocacy organizations, representing millions of older persons and their caregivers, preserves and strengthens many of the essential programs that enable older persons to live independently in their homes and communities.
Come to Elder Services’ Older Americans’ Month Open House - Learn what we can do for you! May 18, 3 to 5:30 p.m., 66 Wendell Avenue, Pittsfield.