Older Amercan's Act

Overview of the Older Americans Act and Aging Network


The purpose of the Older Americans Act is ".To provide assistance in the development of new or improved programs to help older persons through grants to the State for community planning and services and for training, through research, development, or training project grants."
The grants are implemented through Area Agencies on Aging by subgrants to local service providers. These subgranted services are intended to help older persons in maintaining their independence and dignity, as well as to avoid unnecessary institutionalization.

The older Americans Act is the major categorical grants program provided in federal law to advance the interest and needs of older persons relative to the provision of social and health related services.
The Act provides a central focus for a broad range of constituent activities on the part of various public and private sector organizations and individuals seeking to improve the aged's actual status in society. It provides a stimulus, through a partnership of federal government with state and local governments, the private sector, and older persons themselves, for promoting the allocation and/or redistribution of resources on behalf of the elderly beyond those granted by the federal government.

The objectives of the Older Americans Act, with the 1987 amendments, is to assure older Americans:

  1. An adequate income in retirement in accordance with the American standard of living;

  2. The best possible physical and mental health which science can make available and without regard to economic status;

  3. Obtaining and maintaining suitable housing, independently selected, designed and located with reference to special needs and available at costs which older citizens can afford;

  4. Full restorative services for those who require institutional care, comprehensive array of community based, long-term care services adequate to appropriately sustain older people in communities and their homes including support to family members and other persons providing voluntary care to older individuals needing long-term care services;

  5. The opportunity for employment with no discriminatory personnel practices because of age;

  6. Retirement in health, honor, dignity after years of contribution to the economy;

  7. Participating in and contributing to meaningful activity within the widest range of civic, cultural, education and training, and recreational opportunities;

  8. Efficient community services, including access to lowcost transportation, which provide a choice in supported living arrangements and social assistance in a coordinated manner and which are readily available when needed, with emphasis on maintaining a continuum of care for the vulnerable elderly;

  9. Immediate benefit from proven research knowledge which can sustain and improve health and happiness;

  10. Freedom, independence and the free exercise of individual initiative in planning and managing their own lives full participation in the planning and operation of community-based services and programs provided for their benefit.

  1. See also: Titles of the Older Americans Act
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