The U.S. Administration for Community Living is seeking input on proposed revisions to the rules governing its Older Americans Act (OAA) programs.
The proposed rule represents the majority of OAA program regulations' first significant modification in 35 years, according to a June 15 news release. Since the enactment of the current OAA regulations, the world has seen significant transformation.
“Like the Inflation Reduction Act, which has cut health care costs for millions of older adults, and the steps we have taken to strengthen Medicare and Medicaid, the update to the Older Americans Act regulations reflects President Biden’s commitment to supporting the health and well-being of older adults," U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra said in the release.
Older folks are living longer than ever before, and their population has almost doubled, the release reported. They have different expectations of aging than prior generations did.
As non-medical services that help people avoid institutional care and hospitalization — like those offered through OAA programs — are increasingly incorporated into health care service delivery models, there is a growing awareness of the impact of the social determinants of health, the release said.
"By strengthening the stability and sustainability of Older Americans Act programs and promoting equitable access to its services, the proposed rule will help ensure that older people, particularly those in greatest need, have the support they need to live independently and age with dignity,” Becerra added, according to the release.
Since 1988, Congress has revised the OAA seven times, the release reported. The proposed rule attempts to conform rules to the existing law and take older persons' needs into account.
“The overwhelming majority of older adults want to live in the community as they age, and almost 95% of them do," Acting Assistant Secretary for Aging and ACL Administrator Alison Barkoff said in the release. "For many, services provided through the Older Americans Act — such as rides to doctors’ appointments, nutritious meals, in-home services and support to family caregivers — make this possible.
The proposed rule creates regulations for programs that have been authorized by the OAA since the rule's previous update, such as ACL's state and Tribal caregiver assistance programs, and clarifies criteria for several programs, the release said. It also deals with topics that have come up during the past three decades, such as the need for clarity of guidelines and leeway when it comes to helping senior citizens in times of crisis.
"This proposed rule will strengthen the system of support that allows millions of older adults to stay in their own homes. With our population aging rapidly, and nearly three out of four people needing assistance to age in place, this is more important than ever,” she added, according to the release.
With the final goal of better supporting older individuals, it is designed to support the national network of aging services that provides OAA services and to enhance program execution, the release said. The culmination of many years of interaction with the national aging network is the proposed rule.
Input from a formal request for information, a series of listening sessions, formal Tribal consultations and other interactions with Tribal grantees are also reflected in it, according to the release.
