Chairman Rick Scott and Ranking Member Kirsten Gillibrand of the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging will hold a hearing on December 3 to discuss how community networks can support older adults during the holiday season. The hearing, titled “Aging in Place: The Impact of Community During the Holidays,” aims to address issues of isolation among seniors and highlight programs that help them remain connected and independent.
The session will feature testimony from John Offerdahl, President of Offerdahl’s Hand-Off Foundation; Jason Resendez, President and CEO of the National Alliance for Caregiving; Alison Barkoff, Associate Professor and Director at George Washington University’s Hirsh Health Law & Policy Program; and Emily Ladau, author of "Demystifying Disability."
According to the committee, witnesses will present examples of successful initiatives supported by the Older Americans Act (OAA). These programs involve nonprofits, service organizations, and faith-based groups that assist families—including those balancing care for both children and aging parents—during periods when caregiving demands increase.
The upcoming hearing builds on previous committee work addressing senior loneliness and reviewing OAA programs earlier this year. Chairman Scott and Ranking Member Gillibrand emphasized their ongoing bipartisan efforts to find practical solutions that reinforce social connections for seniors while reducing dependence on institutional care.
“This hearing continues the committee’s bipartisan commitment to advancing programs that promote dignity, independence, and a better quality of life for America’s aging community. During the holidays, when community matters most, these support systems become even more essential to ensuring that older adults feel included, valued, and part of the places they call home,” according to a statement from committee leadership.
The event is scheduled for 3:00 PM ET at the Senate Hart Office Building (SH-216) with a live broadcast available online.
