ACB urges Congress to reauthorize the Older Americans Act and, when doing so, to ensure that the legislation includes provisions that enable aging Americans who are losing vision receive needed services.

The Older Americans Act (OAA) was created in 1965 to provided needed services for Americans age 60 and older. The legislation created the Administration on Aging which is a subagency of the Administration for Community Living (ACL). ACL is a part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) that the new administration has talked about dissolving through new agency budget cuts. The OAA provides a myriad of services for aging people, including community-based social services such as the creation and maintenance of senior centers, elder abuse prevention, transportation options, home food delivery services, and chronic health prevention. These services are essential for older Americans and must be continued under the OAA. As a result, any agency restructuring must not inadvertently eliminate these pivotal services.

However, the OAA does not go far enough in its services for aging people in our country. The number of people with vision loss greatly increases with age. As a result, more community-based services are needed to serve people who are experiencing age-related blindness. Many of the current Administration on Aging programs are not successfully serving this population. If appropriate services are provided to this community, they can remain safe and independent in their homes and not end up in institutional settings. Therefore, it is imperative that the reauthorization go through this Congressional session, and that it include greater language on services that will specifically serve those who have lost their vision later in life.

Dear [Lawmaker],

I urge you to push forward the Older Americans Reauthorization Act, S. 2120. This important bill was unsuccessful in being reauthorized in the 118th Congress. These services are too important to overlook.

The Older Americans Act (OAA) has been providing greatly needed services for older people since 1965. Under the OAA, persons 60 years and older are eligible for services such as alternative transportation, home food delivery services, and elder abuse protections. As more and more Americans age, these services become increasingly important.

However, Congress needs to go further. When the bill is reauthorized, it must include provisions that specifically serve people who are losing their vision. The current services have failed to adequately serve people who are experiencing age-related blindness. As a result, they cannot live independently or safely at home. However, basic blindness-related services could equip them with the tools they need to keep them from entering institutional settings. As a result, when Congress reauthorizes this bill, it must greatly consider the needs of those who are losing their vision as they age.

Again, please move this reauthorization bill forward and consider the needs of those who are losing their vision as you do so.

Sincerely,
______

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