On December 3, 2025, the Senate Special Committee on Aging will hold a hearing focused on how strong community networks can support older adults during the holiday season. The hearing, titled “Aging in Place: The Impact of Community During the Holidays,” is organized by Committee Chairman Rick Scott and Ranking Member Kirsten Gillibrand.
The event aims to address issues of isolation among seniors that often peak during the holidays. Witnesses are expected to discuss successful programs supported by the Older Americans Act (OAA) and highlight the roles played by nonprofit organizations, service groups, and religious organizations in helping families—including those from the so-called “sandwich generation”—manage increased caregiving responsibilities at this time of year.
“This hearing will explore how strong community networks can support older adults during the holiday season when isolation peaks, offering a look at how these support systems help seniors stay connected, engaged, and independent,” according to committee leadership. “Witnesses will highlight successful programs supported by the Older Americans Act (OAA) and show how nonprofits, service organizations, and faith-based groups help families—including those in the ‘sandwich generation’—navigate growing caregiving demands during the holidays.”
Building on previous committee work—including hearings held in March on senior loneliness and additional sessions in July and November focused on OAA programs—the committee leaders say they plan to focus on practical community-driven solutions that strengthen social ties while reducing reliance on institutional care. They emphasized their bipartisan commitment to promoting programs that enhance dignity, independence, and quality of life for America’s aging population.
“This hearing continues the committee’s bipartisan commitment to advancing programs that promote dignity, independence, and better quality of life for America’s aging community. During the holiday season—when community matters most—these support systems become even more essential to ensuring older adults feel included, valued, and part of their communities,” they stated.
Scheduled witnesses include John Offerdahl (President of Offerdahl’s Hand-Off Foundation), Jason Resendez (President & CEO of National Alliance for Caregiving), Alison Barkoff (Associate Professor of Law & Health Policy at George Washington University), and Emily Ladau (author of Demystifying Disability).
The hearing will take place at 3:00 p.m. ET in Room SH-216 of the Hart Senate Office Building. A live stream will be available online.
