Fund the Older Americans Act

Congress should double OAA funding of supportive services (Title III B), as well as increase funding for Native American Aging Programs (Title VI) and the research, demonstration, and evaluation center for the Aging Network (Title II). According to the U.S. Census, by 2035, older adults will outnumber children in the United States.[1] This increase in the older adult population will also increase the need for funding and services for aging. The current federal funding for older adults will not keep up with the growing older population.[2] OAA funding of supportive services is particularly important to prevent and address mental health and substance use challenges among older adults. Social isolation among older adults increases hospital and nursing facility spending, leading to an estimated $6.7 billion in additional annual costs to Medicare.[3] Adults over the age of 75 have among the highest suicide rates of any group.[4]

President Biden’s 2024 budget proposed a historic $3 billion for the Administration for Community Living.[5] This increase will be vital to the most urgent priorities: services, prevention, and workforce.