Government programs for the aging

More than 10, people turn 65 every day in the United States, and people are living longer, healthier lives. Healthy lifestyles, planning for retirement, and knowing your options for health care and long-term care are more important than ever before. Long-term care—through in-home assistance, community programs, or residential facilities—enables you to stay active and accomplish everyday tasks.

Millions of older Americans experience abuse, neglect, exploitation, or discrimination each year. Take steps to protect your physical, mental, and financial security. There is no mass media advertising for Older American Act services.

As a result, much of the general public is unaware of the availability of these services. Requests for benefits usually come from referrals from state social service units, elder care service groups, doctors offices, religious groups, contacts at elder fairs, lectures, encounter groups or providers of services under the act. Everyone involved in this referral network is well aware of the restrictions of funding and it is unlikely anyone with sufficient assets or income would be referred.

In the event that someone with means calls and asks for services, local providers are skilled in recommending and directing those people to other programs not funded under the act. A result of this selective targeting essentially makes the services of the older Americans act a program for disadvantaged and poor Americans.

In essence the program has become a welfare service although it is intended not to be and should be available to everyone. In theory anyone requesting services under the older Americans act is entitled to receive them regardless of income or assets.

In practice, wealthy people may be told that funds are lacking to help them or they may be told they will have to go on a waiting list until targeted individuals are covered. Certain programs are not targeted.

Even though many people with means may not receive benefits under the act, the following services are available to anyone on a first-come basis:. Unfortunately, because of chronic under-funding some of the services above are inadequate or even lacking or in many cases there may be waiting lists. Community served meals, however, are typically available for all who want them. Home delivered meals often have waiting lists for recipients.

Many state providers allow for "cost sharing" on certain other services such as supportive programs in the home, thus making these services available to anyone as well. In this case a person's income can be asked for and services can be provided on a sliding scale, cost-sharing basis tied to income. Anyone below the poverty level must receive these services for free. In the same year about 8,, older Americans were served by Older Americans Act providers. The chart below summarizes these numbers and also includes the per capita amount that would have been available for all older Americans with available funding from the act.

What is important to note is that the cost for maintaining one elderly person in a nursing home under Medicaid is about 50 times the cost of providing services to help an older American remain in the community. There is no question that directing government money to prevent people from having to go to a nursing home is much more cost effective than actually paying for nursing home care.

One wise observer put it this way. It's an age old problem and occurs in many forms in the community. For instance, spending money on drug prevention programs is usually more cost effective than treating or incarcerating drug users. Programs to keep people healthy are much cheaper than paying for expensive medical treatments. Educating our youth and equipping them to be productive, taxpaying citizens is much less costly than providing welfare support.

Multiply this by thousands of people and we could save billions of dollars directing the money where it would do the most good by helping people to remain in their homes in the community and delay their need for expensive nursing home care.

Ability to Get the Job Done The most impressive thing about the entire aging network is the ability to accomplish its goals in the face of scarce resources.

Reading literature on the Internet from federal, state and local aging units gives one the impression there is very little complaining, at least in public. Almost all web sites leave a positive impression with the job that is being done. It is evident that most employees in the aging network enjoy their jobs and rise to the challenges given them. Motivation Instead of hunkering down, punching a time clock and expecting status quo it appears that members of the aging network are interested in getting the job done regardless of the challenges.

As a result, these people are constantly looking for new ways to achieve more with fewer resources. Area agencies on aging are particularly adept at getting cooperation from the general public, nonprofit organizations, other government organizations and employers.

This often takes the form of a cadre of volunteers-- , of them nationwide-- to help with the goals of the aging network. A large amount of voluntary contributions are also collected from older Americans themselves, their families and the community.

Research, Innovation and Feedback Numerous research and innovation grants from the Administration on Aging foster the achieving environment of the aging network. There is a constant effort to learn more about the challenges of aging Americans and as a result improve the system. The emphasis on two, three or four year planning cycles and the reliance on feedback from the community itself allows the aging network to stay close to the needs of older Americans.

Unlike some organizations that work from the top down and tend to insulate themselves from the people they are serving, workers in the aging network are in the trenches rubbing shoulders with and learning from the people they serve. Funding Is Stuck Even though the population of older Americans is growing larger each year, funding on a national level is being held level or even declining from previous years.

Neither Congress nor the President seem to understand the importance of the services offered through the aging network.

Unfortunately few national organizations outside of the associations directly involved with the network seem to advocate on behalf of the aging network.

Perhaps the aging network itself is too inward looking and needs to reach out and ask for more public support and recognition for its efforts.

Considerably More Funding Is Needed Because area agencies on aging and state aging units do little in the way to use mass media to promote themselves to the public, the aging network is probably missing a large number of poor and socially disadvantaged people who should be receiving its services but who are not aware of these services. In addition, people who are being served are probably not receiving the level of service that will help them entirely remain independent in the community.

Finally, there is no reason why these services can't be available to all older Americans. For instance many people who are not wealthy and not poor but who are struggling with the issues of aging in their communities are not receiving help.

This is a start but funding levels should be going up at a much higher rate per year to get the job done. Need for simplification The Older Americans Act becomes more encumbered with each reauthorization and unfortunately the aging network advocates are probably the biggest culprits because with each reauthorization these people have Congress include more and more language and more programs specific to the needs of older Americans.

Just the opposite should be happening. Recommendations should be made to streamline rules, give more latitude to local providers and cut back on time consuming reporting and over-extensive planning procedures. Perhaps the entire Older Americans Act should be rewritten and simplified. Better Coordination with Other Government Programs It is true that because of the Olmstead decision and the President's responding in with his New Freedom Initiative, much more emphasis is being placed on tying together federal services for the aging and encouraging states and local providers to do the same.

But it shouldn't take a federal initiative to make states see the obvious. Medicaid, Medicare, local housing authorities, counties, cities, private organizations and state agencies should have been working together more closely in the past to meet the needs of an ever-growing older generation.

Some states, such as Oregon have taken the lead without prodding from the federal government. Better Outreach States and local providers need to do a better job to make sure that needy recipients are not falling through the cracks. More funding should be made available for outreach programs and advertising campaigns to reach those in need. NSCLC also convened governmental and community-based advocates in a New Mexico pilot project to assess and plan improvements in the state's elder rights advocacy and legal assistance systems.

The AoA is a small agency with only about employees and compared to its huge sister agency, the CMS, its budget is very tiny. The work of the agency is carried out by a staff in Washington , DC and through 10 regional offices that serve the states, territories, the district of Columbia and about tribal organizations throughout the country.

The president appoints an Assistant Secretary of the Administration on Aging to manage its affairs. The Administration on Aging has guided the development of the national aging services network that today consists of 56 State units on aging, area agencies on aging, almost Tribal organizations, 29, community-based provider organizations, over , volunteers, and a wide variety of national non-profit organizations. This nationwide infrastructure currently provides a wide array of home and community-based services to over 8 million elderly individuals each year, which is 17 percent of all people aged 60 and older, including 3 million individuals who require intensive services and meet the functional requirements for nursing home care.

It also provides direct services to over , informal caregivers each year, who are struggling to keep their loved ones at home. The national aging network is the largest long-term care provider network in the country. The AOA works closely with other agencies in the Department of Health and Human Services to help formulate and administer programs for the elderly. In fact over two thirds of state Medicaid programs for home care home and community-based waivers are administered by area agencies on aging.

Investigative and demonstration grants and surveys are often jointly pursued by a number of agencies in the department. For fiscal year the agency has the following goals:. All Americans should become informed on ways to provide long-term care for themselves without having to rely on government programs.

Younger Americans should be encouraged to buy long-term care insurance and older Americans who own homes should be encouraged to use reverse mortgages to help them remain in their homes as long as possible. In addition, pre-retirement baby boomers need to be aware of the importance of long-term care planning. The AoA along with Medicaid has been sponsoring awareness programs in 24 states and will continue to provide funding for public awareness programs in the remaining states.

The Aging and Disability Resource Center ADRC Program, which was launched in by the Administration on Aging and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, is also designed to help people plan ahead for their long-term care, as well as address the immediate problems consumers face when they try to learn about and access needed care.

This program provides competitive grants to States to assist them in developing and implementing coordinated access to information, individualized advice to consumers on their options, and streamlined eligibility determination for programs.

The long-range vision is to have ADRCs serving as "visible and trusted" places at the community level nationwide where people of any age or income can go to get information on all available options. The program also reduces government fragmentation, duplication, and inefficiencies.

States will be encouraged to find ways to target individuals with few resources and help them remain independent and stay in the community in order to avoid using the more expensive institutional alternatives from Medicaid. A growing body of evidence supports the fact that many of the chronic diseases and disabilities of old age can be mitigated or reversed by changing the lifestyle of the elderly.

In particular, meaningful activities, exercise, weight loss and proper nutrition can go a long ways to improving health and mental clarity and avoiding costly long-term care expenses. In addition proper training programs can help the elderly navigate disability problems at home and avoid injuries and life-threatening falls.

Also elderly people who are given responsibility for managing their own health instead of blindly entrusting it to others are more likely to maintain good health. A program instituted in will be continued in future years to support this goal. The program is designed to demonstrate the effectiveness of the above issues at the community level through training from aging service provider organizations such as senior centers, nutrition programs, faith-based organizations, and senior housing projects.

A dozen local projects are being funded for a three-year period. They focus on disease self-management, fall prevention, nutrition, physical activity, medication management, and depression. The single most important goal of the Older Americans Act reauthorization should be to strengthen the Act so it can play a more central role in helping our nation prepare for the baby boom and long-term living.

Consistent with the Act's mission and the President's New Freedom Initiative, the reauthorization should reflect the values of consumer choice, control and independence, and the principle of providing care to people where they want it.

Funding and Operational Grants Congress provides funding for services under the Older Americans Act for distribution through the Administration on Aging. It is the responsibility of the AoA to distribute this money to state aging units and tribal organizations in the form of grants for seven specific service categories authorized under the act.

States and local agencies have some latitude in moving money around for other categories and it is possible to apply for and be granted waivers if the need for moving more money for specific programs can be justified.

Within each spending category local units have a little more autonomy as to how to conduct their programs. Money is divided up on the basis of the number of people in the state who are over the age of For smaller states and territories a minimum amount of money is guaranteed to maintain their programs. Some of the programs such as supportive services and the national family caregivers support program require matching funds from state and local units. Training, Research and Discretionary Projects Over the years the Administration on Aging has provided money for investigations, demonstrations and research concerning the aging and care delivery systems.

The purpose is to help the agency to improve the aging network and to help formulate policy at a national level. As of there were active grants in 40 different categories. Some are new but many are ongoing. Web Site The administration on aging has an outstanding web site that provides information and resources for professionals, the press and the public.

White House Conference on Aging The White House conference on aging occurs every 10 years and the last was conducted in Amendments to the older Americans act in authorized the President to convene a new conference before December 31, The current conference is scheduled for December 12, and will last for two days.

The purpose of the conference is to bring together older Americans from the public, state administrators and experts in the field of aging to make recommendations to the President and Congress on administering the Older Americans Act. Hundreds of proposals will be entertained but no more than 50 such recommendations are to be part of the final submission. The majority of the delegates must be age 55 and older. No other presidential conferences have ever been held more than once.

This one is the exception. The Secretary of Health and Human Services will conduct the conference with the help of the Assistant Secretary of the Administration on Aging and several other related government agencies. Over 1, delegates have been invited from all states, territories and tribal organizations.

Over the past year, hundreds of pre-conference meetings have been held all across the country including a mini White House conference in the summer to formulate presentations and discuss issues for presentation in the main conference. It is hoped that because of the impending retirement of 77 million baby boomers starting in the next 10 years, significant directives affecting the elderly in America will come from this conference.

Services and Organizations and Their Web Sites The Administration on Aging sponsors, works with or helps fund a number of national organizations and web sites that promote the goals of the Older Americans Act. Some of these are listed below. Eldercare Locator The Eldercare Locator connects older Americans and their caregivers with sources of information on senior services.

The service links those who need assistance with state and local area agencies on aging and community-based organizations that serve older adults and their caregivers. You may speak to an Eldercare Locator information specialist by calling In , Congress granted authority to form NIA to provide leadership in aging research, training, health information dissemination, and other programs relevant to aging and older people. Subsequent amendments to this legislation designated the NIA as the primary Federal agency on Alzheimer's disease research.

National Council on Aging Founded in , The National Council on the Aging is a national network of organizations and individuals dedicated to improving the health and independence of older persons and increasing their continuing contributions to communities, society and future generations. Its 3, members include senior centers, adult day service centers, area agencies on aging, faith congregations, senior housing facilities, employment services, and other consumer organizations.

NCOA also includes a voluntary network of more than 11, leaders from academia, business and labor who support our mission and work. The Center's mission is to promote understanding, knowledge sharing, and action on elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation.

The Center's objectives are to enhance the skills, knowledge and management capacity of the State programs to enable them to handle residents' complaints and represent resident interests individual and systemic advocacy.

Through its presence in Washington , D. The fundamental mission of the AAAs and Title VI programs is to provide services which make it possible for older individuals to remain in their home, thereby preserving their independence and dignity.

These agencies coordinate and support a wide range of home- and community-based services, including information and referral, home-delivered and congregate meals, transportation, employment services, senior centers, adult day care and a long-term care ombudsman program.

The mission of the Association is to advance social, health, and economic policies responsive to the needs of a diverse aging population and to enhance the capacity of its membership to promote the rights, dignity and independence of, and expand opportunities and resources for, current and future generations of older persons, adults with disabilities and their families. NASUA is the articulating force at the national level through which the state agencies on aging join together to promote social policy in the public and private sectors responsive to the challenges and opportunities of an aging America.

Alzheimer's Association National Contact Center Our Nationwide Contact Center serves people with memory loss, caregivers, health care professionals and the public. The Alzheimer's Association Nationwide Contact Center Helpline provides reliable guidance and information to all those who need.

Call us 24 hours a day, seven days a week at 1. The National Family Caregiver Support Program The Caregiver Resource Room is where families, caregivers, and professionals can find information about The National Family Caregiver Support Program, including: where you can turn for support and assistance, and providing services to caregivers.

This interagency Web site connects people with disabilities to the information and resources they need to pursue their personal and professional ambitions - delivering on America 's promise of equal access to opportunity for all citizens. Senior Community Service Employment Program An initiative by US Department of Labor for the enhancement of employment opportunities for older Americans and the promotion of older workers as a solution for businesses seeking a trained, qualified, and reliable workforce.

The strategy is to utilize a service approach that can respond quickly and effectively to the changing needs of business. Volunteer Centers In addition to the many volunteer opportunities open to older persons through Federal programs, community level agencies and organizations welcome the talents of the elderly. Many communities have Volunteer Centers that offer information about the types of volunteer opportunities available and the agencies and organizations that are seeking volunteer assistance.

Volunteer Centers refer an estimated , new volunteers each year. Volunteers assist a wide variety of community organizations which provide services to such populations as the elderly, youth, people with AIDS, and the homeless. Opportunities are also available in areas such as the arts and the environment.

The National Senior Service Corps Senior Corps Senior Corps is a network of programs that tap the experience, skills, and talents of older citizens to meet community challenges. Through its three programs - Foster Grandparents, Senior Companions, and RSVP the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program - more than half a million Americans age 55 and over assist local nonprofits, public agencies, and faith-based organizations in carrying out their missions.

Foster Grandparents offer support to children with special needs; Senior Companions provide assistance to help elderly individuals live independently; and Retired and Senior Volunteers provide a variety of services that range from leading local museum tours to teaching adult education computer classes. Foster Grandparents and Senior Companions meet income eligibility requirements, serve 20 hours per week and receive small stipends. RSVP volunteers serve without compensation, but may be reimbursed for such expenses as transportation.

Insurance protection is provided to volunteers while on assignment. For information on the Senior Corps programs call or visit: www. Senior Medicare Patrol The Senior Medicare Patrol projects teach volunteer retired professionals, such as doctors, nurses, accountants, investigators, law enforcement personnel, attorneys and teachers, to help Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries to be better health care consumers, help identify and prevent billing errors and potential fraud.

Since , these Administration on Aging funded projects have trained more than 48, volunteers and conducted more than 60, community education events reaching nearly 10 million people. To learn more about Senior Medicare Patrol volunteers go to: www.

Older Americans Act Volunteer Programs Each year about seven to nine million older people use Older Americans Act OAA services, whose delivery largely depends upon the efforts of half a million volunteers. These volunteers work through State and Territorial Units on Aging, Area Agencies on Aging, and more than 20, local organizations that offer opportunities and services to active older persons as well as those elderly who need help. Volunteer activities include: assisting at group meals sites and delivering meals to the home-bound elderly; escorting frail older persons to health care services, on shopping errands and to other needed services; visiting homebound older persons and providing telephone reassurance to help ensure their well-being through regular social contacts; repairing and weatherizing the homes of low-income and frail older persons to ensure their safety and improve their mobility; counseling older persons in a variety of areas including health promotion, nutrition, legal and financial concerns; serving as a nursing home ombudsman to resolve resident facility disputes and to help ensure the safety and well-being of residents; providing homemaking assistant to frail older persons; and assisting in senior center, day care, and other group programs for seniors.

The project also works to improve legal assistance delivery systems, with a focus on collaborations among public programs and the private bar. This past year project staff produced elder law fact sheets, and they managed a listserv that connects over elder law attorneys and other advocates from across the country. NTP also offers an intensive "Training-of-Trainer" program to enhance the skills of field trainers in legal and social services organizations.

Project staff also developed downloadable overheads on elder law topics for community-based organizations, and they developed an on-line version of NTP's Nursing Home Law Module. The project addresses the most pressing consumer problems faced by the elderly, including challenges to sustaining home ownership, fraudulent and exploitive sales practices, and debt management and financial decision-making. This past year NCLC provided training, legal practice aids, and in-depth case consultations to elder law attorneys and other advocates serving the elderly.

The project also produced and disseminated a consumer education brochure on predatory lending and translated it into Spanish and Chinese. No state uses the term "State Unit on Aging" and each state has devised its own title for its agency.

Also each state has chosen to organize its aging department differently. In some states, services are spread across several departments and in other states they are integrated together. Nevada and Wyoming have a hybrid system where most services are provided by the state. A few states have chosen to assign the responsibility to an elected official. We have included a list of all 50 states and the District of Columbia with their respective titles.

With the exception of protective services and the ombudsman program, states coordinate and oversee the services offered through area agencies on aging in their particular state. Many State units administer protective services and ombudsman services at a state level. If a native Indian tribe shares state boundaries, one of the states will be responsible for making sure there are services provided to that organization and in this rare case, state jurisdiction may extend to another state.

You must meet your state's eligibility requirements. Each state runs its own program. Select your state from this map to find out how to apply. You may be able to file online, by phone, or in person. Some states provide extended benefits when there's high unemployment. Extended unemployment insurance benefits last for 13 weeks. You can apply for extended benefits only once you've run out of regular benefits.

Check with your state; not everyone qualifies. You must report unemployment benefits as income on your tax return. Federal agencies offer many unemployment education and training programs. They are generally free or low cost to the unemployed.

Self-employment assistance programs help unemployed workers start their own small businesses. Known previously as "food stamps," SNAP benefits can help you stretch your food budget if you have a low income. You can use your SNAP benefits to buy a variety of foods for your household, including:. To determine if you are eligible for SNAP benefits , you must meet certain requirements.

States have income limits for SNAP recipients. Do you forget to take your medicine? There are devices available to remind you when it is time for your next dose. Special pill boxes allow you or someone else to set out your pills for an entire week. Have you just gotten out of the hospital and still need nursing care at home for a short time? The hospital discharge planner can help you make arrangements, and Medicare might pay for a home health aide to come to your home.

If you can't remember what the doctor told you to do, try to have someone go to your doctor visits with you. Ask them to write down everything you are supposed to do or, if you are by yourself, ask the doctor to put all recommendations in writing. If staying in your home is important to you, you may still have concerns about safety, getting around, or other activities of daily life. Find suggestions below to help you think about some of these worries. Getting around — at home and in town. Are you having trouble walking?

Perhaps a walker would help. If you need more, think about getting an electric chair or scooter. These are sometimes covered by Medicare. Do you need someone to go with you to the doctor or shopping? Volunteer escort services may be available. If you are no longer driving a car, find out if there are free or low-cost public transportation and taxis in your area. Maybe a relative, friend, or neighbor would take you along when they go on errands or do yours for you.

Finding activities and friends. Are you bored staying at home? Your local senior center offers a variety of activities. You might see friends there and meet new people too. Is it hard for you to leave your home? Maybe you would enjoy visits from someone. Volunteers are sometimes available to stop by or call once a week.

They can just keep you company, or you can talk about any problems you are having. Call your local Area Agency on Aging to see if they are available near you. Safety concerns. Are you worried about crime in your neighborhood, physical abuse, or losing money as a result of a scam? Talk to the staff at your local Area Agency on Aging.

If you live alone, are you afraid of becoming sick with no one around to help? You might want to get an emergency alert system.