Senator Rick Scott, chair of the Senate Special Committee on Aging, and Ranking Member Kirsten Gillibrand will lead a hearing on November 5 focused on the reauthorization of the Older Americans Act (OAA). The session, titled “Renewing Our Commitment: How Older Americans Elevate Families Living with Age-Related Illnesses,” aims to highlight the OAA’s role in supporting individuals living with neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.
According to committee information, witnesses will discuss how OAA-funded programs provide critical services—including nutrition, home care, respite care, transportation, and community engagement—that help millions of older adults maintain dignity and independence. The hearing will also address what advocates describe as an urgent need to reauthorize the OAA so that these support programs can continue for families and caregivers nationwide.
Scheduled witnesses include Erick Montealegre, a family caregiver from Broward County, Florida; Stephen Sappington, a Parkinson’s advocate from Harford County, Maryland; and Duana Patton, President and CEO of USAging and Area Agency on Aging District 5 in Ohio.
The hearing is set for Wednesday, November 5 at 3:30 p.m. in Room SH-216 of the Hart Senate Office Building. A live stream will be available online.
“The hearing will highlight the fundamental role played by the Older Americans Act (OAA) in supporting Americans living with neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s—and their families. Witnesses will discuss how OAA-funded programs provide essential services that help millions of Americans live with dignity and independence—from nutrition and home care to respite care, transportation, and community engagement. The committee hearing will also underscore the urgent need to reauthorize the OAA to continue these vital support programs for families and caregivers across America.”
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