The Older Americans Act cleared another hurdle on its path to reauthorization on Wednesday and now heads to the full Senate for a vote.
The US Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, HELP, Committee reported the act favorably out of committee following an executive session. The committee previously released a discussion draft of the OAA reauthorization on July 13.
Several senior living organizations submitted comments on the draft, applauding efforts to support the direct care workforce but calling for additional resources
LeadingAge said the OAA reauthorization presents an “exciting” opportunity to integrate lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic and enact a “robust and exciting” vision for the future of aging services.
“On behalf of our nonprofit and mission-driven members, who serve older adults in a range of care settings and community types, we strongly support bold action aimed at integrating services and streamlining resources, and implore congress to pair it with an equally strong financial investment,” LeadingAge Director of Workforce Policy Nicole Howell told McKnight’s Senior Living. “Our members count on regular reauthorization of OAA to ensure that older adults receive the services they need to maintain independence, dignity and autonomy.”
LeadingAge’s affordable senior housing provider members linked to OAA-funded programs work collaboratively with Area Agencies on Aging-funded providers to ensure access to services for residents, such as meals and transportation, Howell noted. And its nonprofit adult day members receive funding from Title III-B supportive services and from the respite program. Howell called increases to those programs important for maintaining vital services, including transportation services.
“We support community-based programs, such as assisted living, as they are an important part of the healthcare continuum,” National Center for Assisted Living Executive Director LaShuan Bethea told McKnight’s Senior Living. “We also must acknowledge that all long-term care settings need support as well, so that older adults can receive care in the setting that is best for their needs.”
The act includes several Argentum-supported provisions to address workforce shortages and expand multigenerational care models, according to Senior Vice President of Public Affairs Maggie Elehwany.
Specifically, Elehwany said, Argentum supports the establishment of a national resource center to support the growth and professionalization of the direct care workforce. Argentum also applauded an amendment encouraging greater multigenerational and civic engagement opportunities, which are supported by the Care Across Generations Act that would provide grants for on-site childcare and multigenerational activities.
“As the bill now moves to the full Senate for consideration, Argentum encourages senators to support these important workforce development and multigenerational care model provisions in final legislation,” she said.
