Guest Commentary: Protecting the integrity of the Older Americans Act & essential programs
As America grapples with the future of federal aging services, one thing remains clear: older adults and their caregivers rely on critical programs that cannot be left to wither. The recent announcement to dismantle the Administration for Community Living and defund supportive programs in the Older Americans Act will significantly impact these individuals. The OAA is the bedrock of aging services in this country and is vital in helping older adults live at home and remain a part of their community for as long as possible. Keeping the OAA programs together and providing full funding for OAA programs are not just bureaucratic necessities, they are a national imperative. If we want to Make America Healthy Again, we must invest in the well-being of older adults, people with disabilities, and their caregivers.
The power of a unified aging network
The Older Americans Act works because it operates as an integrated system. In Southwest Florida alone, our Area Agency on Aging answered more than 81,000 helpline contacts, service providers delivered more than 288,000 meals to homebound seniors and provided 214,000 hours of respite care for exhausted family caregivers in 2024. This comprehensive support system exists precisely because the OAA was designed as a cohesive framework.
Splitting up OAA programs into different federal agencies undermines the fact that the various titles and subtitles are all part of ONE delivery system: the Aging Network. This network’s cohesive approach allows Area Agencies on Aging to provide a wide range of person-centered services to meet the needs of older adults as efficiently as possible. The Act works so well precisely because of this unified structure, ensuring that older adults receive comprehensive support tailored to their individual needs.
The cost of fragmentation
Separation of OAA programs would negatively impact the delivery of services to older adults and drive cost inefficiencies through unnecessary and wasteful administrative burdens. Successful coordination at all levels demands a unified approach to delivering the essential programs and services needed by older adults to age well at home and in their communities. Fragmenting these programs would not only disrupt service delivery but also increase administrative costs, ultimately reducing the resources available to support older adults.
The right home for OAA programs
We believe that OAA programs are better suited to a human services agency — such as the Administration for Children and Families -rather than the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, which is a massive health care administration agency. ACF’s focus on human services aligns more closely with the mission of the OAA, ensuring that programs are administered in a manner that prioritizes the well-being and independence of older adults.
The threat of budget cuts
Even more alarming than the structural changes are the drafted proposed budget cuts to zero out health and wellness programs, adult protective services, long-term care ombudsman, emergency home energy assistance and the State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP), known as SHINE in Florida. These cuts are a direct attack on older adults, making them less safe and more vulnerable, and will lead to higher costs to taxpayers down the road at the expense of the health, safety, and well-being of the elderly.
When we cut funding for evidence-based health programs that help seniors manage chronic conditions, we pay instead through increased Medicare hospitalizations. When we eliminate protection services for vulnerable elders, we bear the higher costs of addressing elder abuse after it occurs. When we reduce nutrition programs, we watch healthcare costs rise as seniors experience malnutrition and preventable health deterioration.
Advocacy is essential
It is critical that we speak out now. Advocacy is not ptional! These proposals are “penny wise and pound foolish” and threaten the very foundation of the OAA and the Aging Network, which have proven to be effective in supporting older adults. We must ensure that OAA programs remain unified under the Administration on Aging and continue to receive the funding necessary to provide vital services. The health and independence of older adults depend on it.
The Older Americans Act: A lifeline for millions
First passed in 1965, the Older Americans Act provides essential services that help older adults remain independent, healthy, and connected to their communities. It funds nutrition programs like home-delivered meals, caregiver support, transportation, legal aid, and protection against elder abuse. Through local AAAs and community-based organizations, the OAA reaches millions, many who have no other safety net.
The OAA is not just about charity; it’s about preventing a costly healthcare crisis. A delivered meal or an in-home aide can keep an older adult out of a hospital or nursing home, saving taxpayer dollars while improving quality of life. A senior center helps older adults stay engaged in the community, creates opportunities for volunteering, and keeps people active and healthy – eliminating loneliness and isolation and their deadly effects.
The threat of inaction
Despite its proven success, the OAA is chronically underfunded. Now, with the dismantling of ACL, the aging network faces disruption. Yet the need is greater than ever. Every day, 10,000 Americans turn 65, and by 2030, one in five Americans will be a senior. If we fail to act, we risk leaving millions of older adults without meals, support, and care.
A Call to Action: Fund programs for older adults and caregivers
If we genuinely want to Make America Healthy Again, we must prioritize the health and independence of older adults and their caregivers. Congress must act now to keep the Older Americans Act together and ensure full funding for vital services. We also need to call on state and local leaders to support AAAs, which continue to serve their communities despite funding shortfalls.
America’s strength is measured not just by its economy or military but by how it treats its most vulnerable. The Older Americans Act is a proven investment in dignity, health, and economic stability. Let us not turn our backs on the very people who built this nation. Fund Older Americans Act and other essential programs for older adults and caregivers now — ensuring they can age with dignity, independence, and security.
— Maricela Morado is the president and CEO of the Area Agency on Aging for Southwest Florida, the Area Agency on Aging and Aging and Disability Center for Charlotte, Collier, DeSoto, Hendry, Glades, Lee and Sarasota Counties – whose mission is to connect older adults and adults with disabilities to resources and assistance for living safely with independence and dignity. She is part of the Florida Area Agency on Aging Association (F4A) and member of USAging, the national organization that supports all 600-plus Area Agencies in the United States.