Meeting the Needs of American Seniors
Reauthorizing the Older Americans Act
By Michelle Love
In June 2025, Sens. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) and Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and leading members of the Senate Special Committee on Aging, introduced the Older Americans Act Reauthorization Act of 2025. This bipartisan legislation closely mirrors S. 4776, which would have reauthorized the Older Americans Act (OAA) in 2024.
History
The Older Americans Act was first created in 1965 and has expanded in scope over the years. It was last authorized in 2020, extending through 2024. The act authorizes grants from the federal government to states to provide community social services to older adults and establishes the Administration on Aging to administer these grant programs.
The Older Americans Act statute includes seven titles that describe the administration and funding of the programs. Most of the funding for Older Americans Act services authorizes grants for state and community programs on aging to provide services such as:
- Supportive services and senior centers, including case management, transportation, help with homemaker tasks, chores and personal care, adult day care and legal assistance.
- Nutrition services, including home-delivered and congregate meals.
- Evidence-based prevention and health promotion services.
- The National Family Caregiver Support Program, which provides counseling, support groups and relief from caregiver duties.
Separately, the law also provides funding for grants to encourage health, independence and longevity, including research programs and demonstration projects in the areas of chronic disease management and fall prevention.
Industry Priorities
The National Council on Aging (NCOA) published its priorities for the bill’s reauthorization, including: economic security by maintaining the Senior Community Service Employment Program, ensuring resources for senior center operations and maintenance of services and resources that help with issues such as fall prevention, chronic disease self-management education and healthy aging programs.
New & Improved
The reauthorization bill:
- Proposes to strengthen the Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program by requiring a full-time director position for the program
- Aims to boost the National Family Caregiver Support Program by adding language that encourages easier access to services and supports
- Requires that trauma-informed services and elder abuse prevention be made available to assist caregivers in solving problems relating to their caregiving roles
- On elder-abuse prevention, the legislation authorizes a clearinghouse for best practices, particularly for legal and protective services
