While potential changes to Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security under the Trump administration are being reported daily, one topic that is not being discussed is the threat to funding for the Older Americans Act. The OAA’s programs are fundamental to assisting all older adults in remaining independent and active in their communities.
The meal programs offered by San Diego’s Serving Seniors are supported through OAA funding, a lifeline for older adults in poverty and homelessness. OAA programs reach one in six seniors nationally, including Serving Seniors clients.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recently announced a significant transition, including the elimination of critical aging programs. San Diego’s Congressional representatives must understand the importance of the OAA.
Marking its 60th anniversary in 2025, the OAA has been a lifeline supporting millions of older adults nationwide. Serving Seniors is leading the nationwide call on our federal elected officials to reauthorize the act and to maintain current funding levels.
I serve as the current board chair of the National Association of Nutrition and Aging Services Programs. We have significant concerns about the future of the OAA.
On Monday, July 14, I kicked off a live online rally via YouTube to mark the significance of the OAA on its anniversary and the need to support its reauthorization.
The act is one of the Great Society programs alongside Medicare and Medicaid. Over the past 60 years, it has touched tens of millions of lives and remains one of the most visible and impactful programs in the country.
San Diego Congresswoman Sara Jacobs was among the elected officials who appeared and offered support for reauthorizing the act.
“I’ve seen firsthand how organizations like Serving Seniors are addressing this critical need,” said Jacobs.
“I’ve been so grateful to partner with Serving Seniors, to serve meals to folks in our community, and I was struck by the immediate and very real human connection that forms because we’re not just delivering food, we’re combating isolation,” she added.
“This program has also proved to be crucial for keeping seniors housed, which is both a major priority and a major challenge in San Diego.”
According to a report from the Kaiser Family Foundation, well over one million older adults benefited from home-delivered or congregate meals provided through the OAA, with 181 million home-delivered meals and 57 million congregate meals provided to these individuals through organizations like Serving Seniors.
But funding for OAA programs and services has not kept pace with the growth in the older adult population in the U.S. Between 2014 and 2024, the number of people aged 60 and older increased by 28% from 64.7 million to 82.5 million.
Increased funding is essential. With older adults being the fastest-growing population in the U.S., the need is rising. So must the nation’s commitment to people aged 60 and up.
At Serving Seniors I’ve seen firsthand how transformative OAA supported programs are. Providing healthy, nutritious meals represents another smart investment to keep older adults healthy, independent, and connected, while reducing hospitalizations and healthcare costs.
When low-income older adults receive meals from organizations like Serving Seniors, they can reallocate their food budget to rent, medical care, or other needs. As we know from our landmark needs assessment survey, stretching their budget by even a few hundred dollars per month is often the difference between being housed or homeless.
In addition, older adults who join us at Serving Seniors for meals in one of our eight congregate dining rooms enjoy the positive benefits of a social network of friends, which is vital to their mental health.
Organizations like Serving Seniors represent millions of older adults. We intend to use our collective voice and urge others concerned about support for America’s older adults to join us.
As we point out so often, the lion’s share of older adults experiencing homelessness find themselves facing this crisis due to a sudden life event. Often, a modest investment whether through provided meals, a one-time support payment or a modest shallow rental subsidy can prevent homelessness among older adults.
Compared to the cost of solving San Diego’s homelessness crisis after the fact, the Older Americans Act is easily one of the best bargains around for our public funds.
Melinda Forstey is president and chief executive officer of Serving Seniors.
Hence then, the article about opinion the treatened older americans act is vital for san diego seniors was published today ( ) and is available on Times of San Diego ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Opinion: The treatened Older Americans Act is vital for San Diego seniors )
Also on site :
- 12-year old Russian beats world chess champion
- Hundreds of popular grocery, drug-store items recalled due to ‘filth' at Midwest distribution center
- Passengers stuck on Delta flight for more than two hours after landing at Rochester airport