The Older Americans Act of 1965 was passed to address several problems facing older adults in the 1960s, including income insecurity, lack of access to quality health and social services, inadequate housing, and lack of opportunities for productive living. Before programs like Social Security and Medicare, over 30% of Americans over age 65 lived in poverty. The Act established the Administration on Aging and provided funding to states for community services, planning, and research regarding older adults. It has been reauthorized and amended several times to expand services, better coordinate programs, and address new issues like elder abuse and caregiver support.

1. ASSIGNMENT DETAILS: POLICY ANALYSIS WORKSHEETS
POLICY ANALYSIS WORKSHEET
Name: _____Sarah J. Smith________ Date: _________3/10/15__________________
Policy Name/Definition:
The Older Americans Act of 1965 (Public Law 89-73)
The main objectives of the OAA is to improve the lives of older adults with regards to income,
physical and mental health, housing, employment, and community service. The OAA Was the
first legislation mandated to bring together fragmented public and private aging network delivery
system to meet the basic needs of older adults. The OAA established the Administration on
Aging and stipulates that state Agencies on Aging be established. It should be noted that the
OAA was constructed to complement Medicare and Medicaid.
Section Discussion/Research
Section #1
Historical Background of the
Policy:
What historical problems led to
the creation of the policy?
The main problems facing older adults in the early
1960’s, when compiled, can be seen as four basic problems.
These problems are income insecurity, full access to quality
health and social services, decent and affordable housing,
and the opportunities to sustain full and productive living.
(The White House Conference on Aging, 1960).
In many states the standards of public assistance were set
below the minimum amount needed to adequately support
the older adults’ basic needs and restrictive residence, filial
responsibility, and citizenship requirements limited public
assistance (White House Conference on Aging, & United

2. States, 1961). These barriers prevented many needy older
adults from receiving adequate aid through the Old Age,
Survivor, and Disability Insurance under Social Security.
Before the Older American Act and Medicare, more than one
out of three Americans over 65 were living below the
poverty line (Tumulty, 2014).
In addition, there was a need for coordination of services,
planning and financing of programs and services for older
adults on the local, state and federal levels of the public,
private, and non-profit sectors. Federal oversight and
funding of the “aging network” was not sufficient and there
was need for a federal level leadership position (White
House Conference on Aging, & United States, 1961).
How the problem was previously
handled?
Before 1935 not much thought was given to the economic
security of older adults as few people survived to old age
(Moody & Sasser, 2012). Traditional sources of economic
security consisted of assets, labor, family, and charity (Social
Security Administration, 2015). Extended family was most
often the source of economic security for the aged and many
states had filial responsibility laws (Moody & Sasser, 2012).
The Social Security Act created a social insurance
program for workers age 65 years or older funded through
contributory payments made to a joint fund during persons’

3. economically productive years (Social Security
Administration, 2015). The act also provided grants to states
for means-tested Old-Age-Assistance and was intended to be
a temporary “relief” program (Social Security
Administration, 2015). Dependent and Survivor benefits
were added in the 1939 Amendments.
The act was an attempt to protect against unforeseen
dangers of the modern life including old age, disability,
poverty, unemployment, and widowhood. Social Security
was of reasonable success as it lifted the poverty level of
older Americans from more than 50 percent during the Great
Depression to 32 percent in 1960 (Moody & Sasser, 2012).
Many older adults had few options if they needed medical
and personal care. In some communities, older adults were
boarded out to families that agreed to provide care in their
homes (Wacker & Roberto, 2014). Before 1965 and the
passage of Medicare, two federal grant programs assisted
states in the provision of health services for the aged that
could not afford their medical bills. The first program was
established in 1950 and provided federal matching funds to
states for payments to medical providers for individuals who
received means-tested public assistance (U.S. Department of
Health and Human Services, 2000). The second program

4. entitled Medical Assistance for the Aged, created by the
Kerr-Mills Act of 1960, provided federal funds for
individuals that did not qualify for OASDI, but were in need
of assistance with medical expenses (U.S. Department of
Health and Human Services, 2000).
The Housing Acts of 1956 and 1959 provided federal
assistance to older adults for the financing of home
purchases. Additionally, Federal assistance and loans were
authorized to corporate non-profit rental housing projects to
provide low-rent housing for the lower to middle income
older adults (New Aid Program for Housing of the Elderly,
1961).
After World War II, pensions as deferred compensation to
workers provided fringe benefits to retired older adults. In
1950, 25 percent of private sector workers were covered by
private pension plans (Moody & Sasser, 2012).
What is the historical
background of the policy?
The Older Americans Act was passed as part of Lyndon
Johnson's Great Society reforms. What allowed for the
passage of these reforms and the OAA was the correct mix of
political energies coming together at the right time.
Organized political groups for the aged grew during the
late 1950s to mid-1960s. These included The National

5. Council of Senior Citizens (NCSC), The American
Association of Retired Persons (AARP), and The National
Retired Teachers’ Association (NRTA) (Binstock, 1978).
These organizations provided a powerful instrument for
developing a cohesive voting bloc and political leverage for
older adults. Older adults constituted as much as 16 percent
of the electoral vote during the mid-1960s (Binstock, 1978).
During this same timeframe, in 1959, The Standing
Subcommittee on Aging of the Senate Committee on Labor
and Social Welfare was established. This committee
morphed into The Senate Special Committee on Aging
(SSCA) in 1961. Both were established by Senator Pat
McNamara of Michigan and provided a plethora of
testimony, reports, and hearings of the problems older adults
faced by both experts and the public (Binstock, 1978). The
SSCA formed ties with the aging organizations, and although
the special committee had no legislative power, they were
able to assist these organizations in creating legislative
proposals (Binstock, 1978). In addition, the NCSC became
an organizing basis for “senior citizen” groups and lobbied
extensively for aging issues (Binstock, 1978).
Aging issues were rising on the political agenda in
Washington which generated a joint resolution of Congress

6. authorizing the first White House Conference on Aging in
Washing D.C. in January of 1961. This conference helped
build authority and provided a consensus of
recommendations for public policy of the aged at a national
level (White House Conference on Aging, & United States,
1961). In addition, the Democratic landslide in the 1964
election proved to be the most liberal House since 1938
(Congress is Nobodies [sic] Lap Dog, 1965) and has been
considered by many as the most productive legislative body
to date (Tumulty, 2014). The thriving American postwar
economy of the late 1940s and 1950s continued into the
1960s providing the necessary funds for new legislation
(Marx, 2011). These forces combined, thereby opening the
policy window wide which led to the passage of the OAA.
When did the policy originate? In 1958, Congressman John E. Fogarty introduced
legislation calling for a White House conference on aging.
Congress enacted the White House Conference on Aging Act
and the bill was signed by President Dwight D. Eisenhower
(Gelfand & Bechill, 1991). The White House conference
was held in 1961 and led to specific recommendations for
public policy that addressed the needs of older adults (White
House Conference on Aging, & United States, 1961). The
conference also called for a federal coordinating agency in

7. the field of aging and funding for a federal program
providing grants to states for community planning and
projects, research, and development. Many of these
recommendations can be seen in the objectives of both the
Older Americans Act and Medicare (Gelfand & Bechill,
1991).
The original act was eight pages in length and consisted
of six Titles. Title I listed 10 objectives that focused on the
concepts of the inherent dignity of older adults and the
responsibility of the governments of the United States to
assist older adults in securing equal opportunity in adequate
income, quality health and social services, suitable and safe
housing, employment, and the pursuit of meaningful
activities (Wikisource, 2013). Title II established the
Administration on Aging within the Department of Health,
Education, and Welfare under the direction of a
Commissioner on Aging to be appointed by the President
with consent from the Senate. It also mandated eight
functions of the AoA. Title III provided grants to states for
community planning and projects. Title IV authorized
research and development grants, and Title V authorized
training of persons working or preparing to work in the field
of aging. Title VI established an Advisory Committee on

8. Older Americans which consisted of the Commissioner on
Aging and 15 experts in special problems of the aging
(Wikisource, 2013).
How has the original policy
changed over time?
Since the enactment of the Older Americans’ Act, congress
has reauthorized and amended the act numerous times.
Initial implementation stage: During its first years, The
Administration on Aging was preoccupied with figuring out
its role as the central figure in aging policy, and whether its
primary target group should encompass all older adults or
just the low-income older adult population (Gelfand &
Bechill, 1991). The 1969 amendments strengthened the Title
III grant program and authorized model projects to meet the
needs of older adults. The major change in the 1969
amendments was the establishment of the National Older
Volunteer Program (Gelfand& Bechill, 1991).
Rapid expansion stage: Between 1971 and 1978 the
OAA experienced significant expansion. President Nixon
increased the AoA funding from $20 million to $100 million
instead of supporting benefit increases and expansion of
Social Security and Medicare (Gelfand & Bechill, 1991). A
major amendment in 1972 created the Nutrition Program for
Older Americans as title VII (Wacker & Roberto, 2014).
The Nutrition program was the first national large-scale

9. program to come out of the OAA legislation (Gelfand &
Bechill, 1991).
The 1973 amendments established local Area Agencies
on Aging (AAAs) which filled an important gap in the aging
network. The AAAs were mandated to plan and coordinate
services, in an effort to develop comprehensive services in all
parts of a state, and to advocate on the behalf of older adults
within their jurisdiction (O’Shaughnessy & Napili, 2006).
Additionally, the establishment of employment programs for
unemployed low-income adults over 50 and funds for the
development of multipurpose senior centers were enacted
(Gelfand & Bechill, 1991).
The consolidation stage: In an effort to consolidate the
growth of programs and services and improve coordination
of these programs, the 1978 amendments embodied a major
structural change to the act. Separate grant programs for
social services, the nutrition program, and multipurpose
senior centers were consolidated into one program under title
III. State and local area agencies on aging were given
authority over these programs to provide a single point of
entry for services in their community (Gelfand & Bechill,
1991).
The targeting stage: The 1981 amendments emphasized

10. the transition of participants to private sector employment
under the community service employment programs. 1984
amendments targeted services to low-income minority older
adults and gave priority to the needs of those with
Alzheimer’s and their families (O’Shaughnessy & Napili,
2006). The 1987 amendments authorized six additional
appropriations for services: in-home services for the frail
elderly; long-term care ombudsman services; assistance for
special needs; health education and promotion services;
services to prevent abuse, neglect and exploitation of older
individuals; and outreach activities for persons who may be
eligible for needs-based benefits and liberalize the eligibility
of community service employment programs
(O’Shaughnessy & Napili, 2006). Additionally, a new Title
VI established grants to Indian tribal organizations for social
and nutritional services was enacted (O’Shaughnessy &
Napili, 2006).
Elder protection, aging in place, and caregiver support
stage: The 1992 amendments added a new Title VII,
Vulnerable Elder Rights Protection Activities, to the act.
Title VII incorporated appropriations for the long-term care
ombudsman program, program for the prevention of elder
abuse, neglect, and exploitation, elder rights and legal

11. assistance development program, and outreach, counseling,
and assistance for insurance and public benefit programs
(O’Shaughnessy & Napili, 2006).
The 2000 amendments authorized the National Family
Caregiver Support Program under Title III, and allowed
states to impose cost-sharing for certain Title III services
(O’Shaughnessy & Napili, 2006). The 2006 amendments
authorized competitive grants to states in order to detect and
prevent abuse, neglect and exploitation of older adults.
Additionally, these amendments targeted services to older
adults with limited English proficiencies. Funding for
demonstration projects to assist older adults to age in place
and for mental health services under Title IV. The 2006
amendments required the Secretary of Labor to conduct a
national competition for Title V funds every four years, and
the AoA was authorized to award funds for Aging and
Disability Resource Centers (ADRCs) to serve as
information clearinghouses on the full range of long-term
care options (O’Shaughnessy & Napili, 2006).
Stagnation stage: Federal funding has not grown in
response to either inflation or the increase of the older adult
population. Currently eligible individuals are experiencing
waiting periods for many OAA services in most states.

12. Reauthorization for the OAA expired in 2011. In October
2013 the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions
Committee approved bipartisan legislation for the
reauthorization of the OAA for five years. However,
Congress has failed to reauthorize the act while Senators try
to agree on a formula for allocating OAA funds to states
(Government Relations and Policy, 2014).
What is the legislative history of
the policy?
Two decades of political activity lead up to the creation
of the Older Americans Act (United States, 1990). In 1945
the Connecticut State Commission on the Care and
Treatment of the Chronically Ill, Aged, and Infirm was
established (United States, 1990). In the years following,
numerous states created Units on Aging which provided
states with the organizational faculty needed to implement
the coordination and cooperation component between the
Federal, State, and local level entities which serves as the
basis of the OAA (United States, 1990).
In response to the White House Conference on Aging
recommendations, Representative John Fogarty and Senator
Pat McNamara introduced legislation in 1962 to establish an
independent U.S. Committee on Aging to create authority
and cohesion across the many departments and agencies that
dealt with ageing issues, and to create a vehicle for grants for

13. social services, research, and training. This legislation was
not enacted (O’Shaughnessy & Napili, 2006).
In 1963 President Kennedy recommended a five-year
federal assistance program to state, local, and voluntary
organizations to plan and develop services for older adults.
These proposals were expanded upon, and recommended the
establishment of an Administration on Aging (Gelfand &
Bechill, 1991).
Legislation introduced in 1963 by Representative Fogarty
and Senator McNamara modified the 1962 proposal by
placing an Administration of Aging within the Department of
Health, Education, and Welfare and proposing that a
commissioner for Aging be appointed by the President with
the approval of the Senate enacted (O’Shaughnessy & Napili,
2006). However, this also was not enacted.
The Older Americans Act, as introduced in 1965 by
Representative Fogarty and Senator McNamara, closely
paralleled the 1963 proposal. This time however, the act
received wide bipartisan support and was signed into law by
President Johnson on July 14, 1965 enacted (O’Shaughnessy
& Napili, 2006).
Section #2:
Problems that Necessitate the
Policy:

14. What is the nature of the
problem?
Increased life expectancy and the older adult
population: Life expectancy dramatically increased in the
first half of the 20th century. In 1900 life expectancy was 47
years of age compared to 68 years of age in 1958 (Jurkowski,
2008). The increase in life expectancy, due to advancements
in technology, changes in quality of life and living
conditions, and advances in medicine (Jurkowski, 2008), led
to the increase of the older adult population. In the early
1900s, approximately five percent of the population was 65
plus. By 1953 the percentage had increased to almost 11
percent (C.O.S, B. B., 1953).
Changes in family structure, filial responsibility, and
urbanization: In the past it was not as difficult for families
to support the older generation. In part because of the
smaller percentage of the aged in earlier decades, but also
because families tended to live in rural districts which
provided less strenuous roles for the aged in a “homestead”
lifestyle. Between 1950 and 1960 approximately 50 percent
of people living in rural districts migrated to urban districts,
dropping from 71.2 percent to 37.5 percent (Jurkowski,
2008).
Additionally, This trend toward urbanization contributed
to the shift from extended family to the rise of the nuclear

15. family. Larger extended families and unmarried daughters
were more readily available to provide care for older adult
relatives (C.O.S, B. B., 1953). Additionally, a societal
change in filial responsibility emerged as parents of nuclear
families were more concerned with the welfare of their own
children and lacked the capacity to provide for both the
younger and older generation. The younger generation
would often leave parents behind to seek employment in
cities (Social Security Administration, 2014). These
demographic and societal changes helped create a greater
reliance on formal systems of elder care, such as community-
based services (Jurkowski, 2008).
Problem of the aging worker: In 1890 68 percent of
those aged 65 and older were in the labor force. By 1955 this
number had dropped to less than 40 percent (C.O.S, B. B.,
1953). This reduction in employment of the older adult
population, and the economic ramification for those that do
not have adequate retirement savings, has been referred to as
the problem of the “aging worker.” Advancements in
technology and white color jobs left many older adults’ job
skills obsolete (Moody & Sasser, 2012). Additionally, a
fixed retirement age, usually 65, was common practice in the
1950s and 1960s (C.O.S, B. B., 1953). Age discrimination in

16. hiring practices was also widespread. Stereotypes of the
negative effects of age on productivity, the inability to learn
new skills, and the perceived rise in pension payments left
many older workers displaced or unable to find adequate
employment (Moody & Sasser, 2012).
Societal ideological shift: The 1960s marked a period of
social advancement for women, minorities, and the elderly.
The ideology of liberal reform called for an activist national
state. It was increasingly seen as the role of government to
bring about social justice for those that had not been able to
fully participate in the market economy due to racism,
sexism, or ageism (Karger & Stoesz, 1994). This societal
shift from traditional, working-class values grounded in
economics was giving way to a new college educated,
suburban value system based on social and cultural issues of
the time (Milkis & Mileur, 2005). This heightened
awareness led to the fruition of the Great Society reforms,
the civil rights movement, and the sexual revolution for
women. Society had reached the point where they demanded
more protection from the government and a higher quality of
life (Milkis & Mileur, 2005).
How widespread is it? Older adult groups at high risk of poverty in the 1960s
included rural Americans, minorities, low-paid workers,

17. single women, and the oldest old. To illustrate, in 1966, the
percentage of rural Americans in poverty was 19 percent,
compared to 14 percent for urban Americans (Marx, 2011).
In that same year, the percent of nonwhite Americans in
poverty was 41 percent, in contrast to 12 percent of white
Americans (Marx, 2011). In the early 1960s, the average
annual income of older couples were half of the annual
income of younger couples (James, G. E. O. R. G. E., 1964).
Additionally, because public assistance was largely
administered by the states, there was a wide variation in
eligibility requirements, what constituted need, and monies
paid out. In 1948 Oklahoma assisted 581 older adults per
1,000 and Colorado, Georgia, and Texas each assisted more
than 400 older adults per 1,000 (Social Security
Administration, 1948). Versus Delaware, the District of
Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, and Virginia
who each assisted less than 100 older adults per 1,000. The
average monthly assistance payment also varied by state
from a high of $84.72 in Colorado to a low of $15.87 in
Mississippi. The 10 highest paying states were Colorado,
California, Washington, Massachusetts, Wyoming, Arizona,
Nevada, New York, Utah, and Connecticut. The 10 lowest
paying states were Mississippi, Georgia, Kentucky, Virginia,

18. North Carolina, Alaska, Arkansas, W. Virginia, Tennessee,
and S. Carolina (Social Security Administration, 1948). It
can be inferred from these statistics that older adults living in
the rural south and parts of the mid-west received less public
assistance than those living in the western and northern
regions of the United States.
How many people are affected
by it?
In the 1930s the Social Security Act excluded black and
other minority groups and most women from coverage
(Jurkowski, 2008). Women tend to live longer than men and
consequently more older women are widowed and live alone
than men (Jurkowski, 2008). In 1970, women living alone
between the ages of 65 and 74 was 31.7 percent compared to
19.1 percent of males in the same age group (Jurkowski,
2008). Social Security payments are based on amount of
time in workforce and the compensation amount. Most
women and many minorities who reached retirement age had
not participated in the paid work force and consequently they
rarely accumulated an adequate pension or substantial Social
Security payments (Jurkowski, 2008).
According to the 1964 census, of those 65 years of age
and over, 84 percent of white married couples, 75 percent of
white single men, and 66 percent of white single females
received retirement benefits in comparison to 61 percent of

19. single non-white males and 50 percent of single non-white
females (United States, 1965). Additionally, six percent of
married white couples, 16 percent of single white males, and
15 percent of single white females received public assistance
through individual states. In comparison, 30 percent of non-
white couples, 32 percent of single non-white males, and 48
percent of single non-while females received public
assistance (United States, 1965).
Who is affected and how? Social Security created an unequal system that linked
retirement benefits to employment in earlier life, but
excluded agricultural and service occupations which were
dominated by white women and minority men and women.
The women who did participate in paid labor commonly had
their time in employment interrupted by family obligations,
and their received benefits were primarily through
connection to a male breadwinner. Minority men were
disproportionately affected by under- and unemployment or
found themselves regulated to low paying jobs without
pensions or unemployment benefits. Widows and minorities
were generally left to rely on safety net state and local
stigmatized public assistance (Milkis & Mileur, 2005).
The oldest old were also disproportionately restricted
from receiving retirement benefits. In 1940 when Social

20. Security benefits started to be paid out, those who were
already in the second half of their economically productive
years provided substantially less contributory payments into
Social Security; therefore, they received a smaller amount in
retirement or none at all. In 1948 it was estimated by the
Social Security Administration Council that in 1960 10 to 13
percent of older males would not be eligible for Social
Security and that 83 to 87 percent of older women would not
have retirement benefits based on their own employment
(Social Security Administration, 1948). In addition,
pensions as added job compensation benefits were mainly
only received by white males. According to the 1960
census, 17 percent of married white couples received a
private pension compared to four percent of non-white
couples (United States, 1964).
Residential segregation and homeownership reflected the
economic divide between white and non-white individuals.
Federal agencies financed approximately half of all
residential homes in the 1950s and 1960s which assisted in
an increase of homeownership rates from 30 percent in 1930
to more than 60 percent by 1960 (Leadership Conference,
2015). However, discriminatory practices based on race was
commonly used as a determining factor for housing credit.

21. Consequently, whites received 98 percent of the loans
approved by the federal government between 1934 and 1968
(Leadership Conference, 2015). Additionally, many public
housing units built from the 1950s to the 1970s were
comprised of over populated "projects," often located in
depressed, racially segregated communities.
What are the causes of the
problems?
Successful aging and equality in older age is not as easily
attainable for some as it is for others. An individual’s social
class influences the experience of old age due to the
accumulated advantage or disadvantage resulting from an
unequal share of wealth, status, and power over the life
course. Discrimination and inequality in education and
economic compensation, along with continuing and past
racism, sexism, and ageism in public assistance policies,
housing practices, and employment greatly impacted the
economic stability and wellbeing of some older adults. The
Greatest Generation cohort grew up at the turn of the
century. They were young adults during the prosperity of the
twenties and then experienced the Great Depression. Many
grew up in extreme poverty while others came from affluent
families. Those born before 1950 lived in a time before civil
rights and where racism and sexism were seen as normal part
of American society. For the first half of the 20th century,

22. women and minorities were treated as second rate citizens.
How a society treats its elderly says a lot about their
fundamental values. Ageism increased as our society placed
more value on youth. This trend began with the industrial
revolution, but was largely media influenced. Since the
1950s when TV began to be the primary source of
information and entertainment, the mass media has played a
significant role in shaping our societal identity formation and
modern consumer culture. Additionally, societal values of
work ethic, independence, and self-reliance are challenged
by the issues of older adults. Consequently this has
influenced the stigma attached to old age and has assisted in
denying full social acceptance and inclusion.
Section #3: Policy Description:
What resources or opportunities
will this policy provide?
In response to widespread concern about a lack of
community social services for older persons, the Older
Americans Act of 1965 was enacted. The OAA was the first
program to focus on community-based services for older
adults and the first legislation to bring together a fragmented
service delivery system that today is called the aging network
(Wacker & Roberto, 2014). The OAA established authority
for formula grants to States for community planning,
coordination of programs, establishment or expansion of

23. multi-purpose senior centers, demonstration projects, and
training of personnel in the field of aging.
Throughout the years since 1965, the OAA has expanded
upon the objectives of the OAA, amended and added new
titles to the act, and expanded services and programs as
needs became evident through research and discussions.
Today, the scope of programs and projects offered under
the OAA encompass the vast needs of diverse populations of
older adults. These services include:
Services to facilitate access: Transportation, outreach,
information and referral, and case management.
Services provided in the community: Congregate meals,
multipurpose senior centers, legal assistance, adult day care,
protective services, legal aid, health screening, housing,
residential repairs, physical fitness and recreation,
employment services, crime prevention, volunteer services,
senior companion services, and health and nutrition
education.
Service provided in the home: Home health, homemaker,
home repairs, respite services, home delivered meals, and
supportive services for caregivers of those with Alzheimer’s.
Services to residents of care-providing facilities:
Casework, counseling, group work, grievance resolution, and

24. long-term care ombudsman programs.
In addition, hundreds of projects have been funded
through the act which have expanded the Nation’s
knowledge and understanding of the older adult population,
promoted innovative ideas and best practices, helped meet
the needs to train personnel, and increased the awareness of
citizens of all ages to assume personal responsibility for their
own health (Administration for Community Living, 2006).
Who will be covered by the
policy and how?
The Older Americans Act empowers the federal
government to allocate funds to the states for community
based supportive services. These services are mandated to be
universal under the OAA which requires all services to be
available to all Americans aged 60 and over regardless of
income. However, the 2000 amendments allowed states to
impose cost-sharing for certain Title III services, such as
congregate meals. Individuals must be given the opportunity
to contribute to the cost of the service; however, persons are
eligible for services regardless of income or assets, and no
one can be denied services based on the inability or
disinclination to contribute (Wacker & Roberto, 2014).
The original Act did not explicitly state that services
should be targeted to those with the greatest need, but
language within the act placed emphasis on helping older

25. adults with the greatest need, mainly low-income individuals
of color (Wacker & Roberto, 2014).
Subsequent amendments placed emphases on providing
services for older adults with the greatest social and
economic needs. Today, targeting is directed towards those
who are frail, live in rural districts, are low-income, at risk
for institutionalization, those with Alzheimer’s, racial and
ethnic minorities, and/or those with limited English
proficiency (Wacker & Roberto, 2014).
The OAA set out specific objectives for maintaining the
dignity and welfare of older individuals and created the
Administration on Aging (AoA) which is the primary vehicle
for organizing, coordinating and providing community-based
services and opportunities for older adults. The AoA awards
funds for supportive home and community-based services to
the State Units on Aging, directs research and demonstration
programs, disseminates educational materials, and gathers
statistics in the field of aging. Each SUA makes sub-grants
or contracts to individual Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs)
for the purpose of development or enhancement of
coordinated and comprehensive community-based programs
to provide a continuum of services for older adults within
their designated areas. AAAs in turn make sub-grants or

26. contracts with services providers to preform and provide
specific functions and services (Administration on Aging,
2000).
How will the policy be
implemented?
The passage of the OAA and subsequent amendments
created the aging network which today consists of formidable
structure made up of and links The Department of Health and
Human Services, The Administration for Community Living,
The Administration on Aging, 56 State Units on Aging, 629
Area Agencies on Aging, Title VI grants to 246 Indian tribes,
two Native Hawaiian organizations, and some 29,000
providers delivering services to older adults (Wacker &
Roberto, 2014).
The original legislation established authority for formula
grants to States for community planning and social services,
research and development projects, and personnel training in
the field of aging. States were required to establish a state
plan on aging to be approved by the Secretary of The
Department of Health, Education, and Welfare (HEW) for
the purposes of title III, and to establish or designate a single
State Agency on Aging to administer the plan and to be
primarily responsible for coordination of State programs and
activities to carry out the purposes of the OAA (Wikisource,
2013). Today the State Agencies are termed State Units on

27. Aging.
The Secretary of HEW was authorized under the OAA to
carry out the purposes of the OAA through grants for
research, development, and training projects to any public or
nonprofit private agencies, organizations, or institutions and
contracts with any such agencies, organizations, or
institutions (Wikisource, 2013).
Today, Formula grants are administered to State Units on
Aging (SUAs) under approved state plans on aging. Each
SUA makes sub-grants or contracts, under an approved area
plan on aging, to individual Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs)
for the purpose of development or enhancement of
coordinated and comprehensive community-based programs
to provide a continuum of services for older adults within
their designated areas. AAAs in turn make sub-grants or
contracts with services providers to preform and provide
specific functions and services (Administration on Aging,
2000)
What are the short term and long
term goals of the policy?
The OAA created the “aging network” which was the
primary immediate short term goal of the OAA. This
network united with the fundamental long-term goal of
supporting the federal government in transforming the
fragmented public and private local, state, and federal

28. programs for older adults into a locally coordinated service
system (Wacker & Roberto, 2014).
The stated objectives of the act were to ensure equal
opportunity to the fair and free enjoyment of adequate
income in retirement; the best possible physical and mental
health services without regard to economic status; suitable
housing; restorative and long term care; opportunity for
employment; retirement in health, honor, and dignity; civic,
cultural, educational and recreational participation and
contribution; efficient community services; immediate
benefit from proven research knowledge; freedom,
independence, and the exercise of self-determination; and
protection against abuse neglect and exploitation
(Wikisource, 2013). These where the hoped for immediate
benefits of and goals of the OAA.
The overall purpose of the Act, as stated in its opening
statement, and its long term goals were to provide services,
opportunities, and protections for older adults to help them
maintain good health and independence in their homes and to
be able to continue to function as a meaningful part of their
community.
What is the funding mechanism
for the policy?
Initially, the Act emphasized small grants to state
agencies on aging to fund community-based social services

29. programs. Since then, specific funding has been authorized
for state planning and coordinating undertakings (South
Dakota Department of Social Services, 2015).
Funding for the services required under the OAA are
appropriated by Congress yearly through tax revenues. These
funds are then distributed to states, territories, the District of
Columbia, Indian tribes and native Hawaiians by the AoA on
a formula basis which provides proportional funding levels
based on states’ over 60 population determined from census
data. For example, Because of its large elderly population
California receives almost 10 percent of OAA funding due to
its high population of older adults. Ten states receive 52
percent of the funding. Originally, the formula was based on
a state’s over 65 population (National Care Planning
Council, 2014).
States are required to provide a minimum 15 percent
match to the federal AoA grants. These matching funds vary
significantly from state to state and assist in providing
overall resources available to their states under the OAA
(Wacker & Roberto, 2014). SUAs keep 10 percent of their
federal appropriation for administration purposes (Wacker &
Roberto, 2014).
AAAs must also provide local matching in the form of

30. monetary funds or in-kind support, such as volunteer hours,
donated space, or equipment (Wacker & Roberto, 2014).
Title III, part C allows for a separate federal allocation to the
states for the operation of congregate and home-delivered
meals programs (Wacker & Roberto, 2014). For every dollar
provided by Congress local governments provide about two
dollars in direct money, in-kind services from volunteers,
community voluntary contributions and cost sharing funds.
(National Care Planning Council, 2014).
What agencies or organizations
will be charged with overseeing,
evaluation, and coordinating the
policy?
The Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare (HEW):
The Secretary was designated to oversee the grant programs
under title III: Grants for Community Planning, Services, and
Training; Title IV: Research and Development Projects; and
Title V: Training Projects. Additionally, The Secretary was
designated to approve State plans on aging (Wikisource,
2013). The Department of Health, Education, and Welfare
was renamed the Department of Health and Human Services
(DHHS) in 1979, when its education functions were assigned
to the newly created United States Department of Education
under the Department of Education Organization Act (Laws,
2015).
Administration on Aging: Through the OAA, the
Administration on Aging (AoA) was established within the

31. Department of Health and Education, and Welfare under the
direction of a Commissioner on Aging to be appointed by the
President with consent from the Senate. The AoA is the
primary agency designated to carry out the provisions of the
OAA including serving as a clearinghouse of information,
administering the grants under the act to states, directing
research and demonstration programs, disseminating
educational materials, and gathering statistics in the field of
aging (Wikisource, 2013).
In 2012, three separate offices under DHSS, The
Administration on Aging, The Administration on
Developmental Disabilities, and The Office on Disability,
were reorganized under one office called The Administration
for Community Living (ACL). The units under the ACL are
now the AoA, Administration on Intellectual and
Developmental Disabilities, Center for Disability and Aging
Policy, and Center for Management and Budget. The
Commissioner on Aging was elevated to the rank of
Assistant Secretary on Aging who is also the ACL
administrator (Wacker & Roberto, 2014). Additionally, The
AoA was reorganized into five offices entitled the Office of
Supportive and Caregiver Services, Office of Nutrition and
Health Promotion Programs, Office of Elder Rights

32. Protection, Office of American Indian, Alaskan Native, and
Native Hawaiian Programs, and the Office of Long-Term
Care Ombudsman Programs. The reorganization has not
changed the AoA’s roles and functions as mandated under
the OAA (Wacker & Roberto, 2014).
Advisory Committee on Older Americans: Title VI of the
original legislation established an Advisory Committee on
Older Americans within HEW for the purpose of advising
the Secretary on matters and responsibilities under the Act.
The Council consisted of the Commissioner on Aging and 15
experts in special problems of the aging who were appointed
by the Secretary (Wikisource, 2013). Today the Assistant
Secretary, in carrying out the objectives and provisions of the
OAA, consults with and cooperates with the head of each
department or agency of the Federal Government that
administers programs or services substantially related to the
objectives of the OAA under Tittle II section 203 Federal
Agency Consultation (Administration on Aging, 2006).
State Units on Aging: Each state is required by the Older
Americans Act to have a State Unit on Aging (SUA). The
SUAs are designated by the governor and/or state legislatures
as the state-level focal point for all activities related to the
needs of and services for older adults. In addition, SAUs

33. administer programs under the OAA within their states,
develop state plans on aging, and are responsible for
providing leadership in identifying gaps and limitations in
the delivery of services and nurturing the expansion of
service programs for older persons (Detroit Area Agency on
Aging, 2015).
State Plans on Aging: Originally Each SUA was required to
submit a multi-year State Plan on aging to the secretary of
HEW to serve as a contract with the AoA in order to receive
funding under titles III and IV. Today the state plans are
based on Area Agency plans within each state and are
submitted for approval to the assistant secretary on aging
within DHHS. The plans include assurances and strategies to
be conducted by the SUAs to carry out all state activities in
accordance to the OAA. They address the service-delivery
system at the state level, create linkages at the state level, test
new models of services, promote training, coordinate and
pool resources, and conduct program evaluation (Detroit
Area Agency on Aging, 2015).
Area Agencies on Aging: 1973 amendments to the OAA
required states to divide their state into planning and service
areas, and to designate Area Agencies on Aging (AAA) to
develop and implement programs and services for older

34. adults at the local level (Missouri Department of Health and
Senior Services, 2015). Additionally, each AAA is required
to submit a four year area plan on aging for review and
approval. The plans state how the AAAs are going to
administer their plans, provide targeted services, and utilize
public hearings, customer surveys, advisory councils, and
other available information in decisions regarding programs
offered, evaluation, and targeting of services (Missouri
Department of Health and Senior Services, 2015).
Service Providers:
Under the Older Americans Act Title III strategy, service
providers contract with the SUAs and AAAs to provide
needed services including nutrition, adult day services,
employment, information, transportation, legal service, and
healthcare and prevention agencies. These service provider
agencies are an important component of the aging network.
(South Dakota Department of Social Services, 2015)
What are outcome measures of
effectiveness for this policy?
The original act did little in the way of instructing
outcome measures of effectiveness of the OAA. the
Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare was authorized
to provide consultative services and technical assistance to
public or nonprofit private agencies, organizations, and
institutions, to conduct research, and to circulate reports of

35. the projects funded under the OAA (Wikisource, 2013).
Today, under Title II section 206, the Secretary is
mandated to measure and evaluate the impact of all programs
authorized by this Act, their effectiveness in achieving stated
goals in general, and in relation to their cost, their impact on
related programs, their effectiveness in targeting for services
under this Act unserved older individuals with greatest
economic need and social need ,and their structure and
mechanisms for delivery of services including comparisons
with appropriate control groups. Evaluations shall be
conducted by persons not immediately involved in the
administration of the program or project evaluated.
Additionally, the Secretary is to obtain input from
organizations representing older adults’ needs and program
participants about the strengths and weaknesses of the
programs (Administration for Community Living, 2006).
Each fiscal year, the Assistant Secretary is required to
prepare and submit to the President and Congress a full and
complete report on the activities carried out under the OAA
including statistical data and analysis information regarding
the effectiveness of AAAs on targeting services to older
adults with the greatest economic and social need, and the
results of evaluative research and evaluation of program

36. impact and effectiveness (Administration for Community
Living, 2006).
In order to facilitate these mandates, each state is
required to submit to the commissioner of the Agency of
Aging objectively collected and statistically valid data with
evaluative conclusions concerning the unmet need for
supportive and nutrition services and multi-purpose senior
centers (Administration on Aging, 2000).
In 1992, the AoA was directed to refine the program
reporting procedures of SUAs. AoA developed the National
Aging Program Information System which is a computerized
reporting system to be used nationally for tracking the use of
aging services within the AAA network. The NAPIS
captures 15 standardized services in its reporting including
personal care, homemaker, chore, home-delivered meals,
adult day care services, case management, congregate meals,
nutrition counseling, assisted transportation, legal assistance,
nutrition education, outreach, and family caregiver support
programs (Administration for Community Living, 2013).
However, sparse comprehensive research exists that
supports either a positive or negative claim as to the
outcomes of the programs under the OAA (Wacker &
Roberto, 2014). In part this is due to the difficulty of

37. measuring such broad policy goals.
Section 4:
Policy Analysis:
Do the goals of the policy
contribute to greater social
equality?
Discrimination and inequality in education and economic
compensation, along with continuing and past racism,
sexism, and ageism in public assistance policies, housing
practices, and employment were the primary underlying
inequalities that contributed to the leading problems for older
adults in 1965. Inequalities were being realized at an
accelerated pace in the 1960s. It was a time of civic unrest
and betterment. The OAA was a momentous piece of
legislature that addressed some of these inequalities.
Since the passage of the OAA, the knowledge and
understanding of the older adult population has expanded
tremendously. The older adult poverty rate has decreased
and there is a strong movement in culture change and holistic
living coming from our seniors and professionals. In 1959,
35 percent of older adults lived below the poverty line
compared to 9 percent in 2006 (Karger & Stoesz, 1994).
Of the 10 objectives of the OAA, five could be said to
directly address equality issues. They are: An adequate
income in retirement, the best possible physical and mental
health, suitable and affordable housing, opportunity for

38. employment free of age discrimination, and efficient and
available community services which provide social
assistance.
Some key services under the OAA that relate to social
equality are as follows:
Education: The 1987 amendments mandated that local
AAAs identify postsecondary schools in their areas that
offered tuition-free education to older adults and disperse this
information to local senior centers (Wacker & Roberto,
2014). AAAs also sponsor educational programs in health,
nutrition, prevention, legal concerns, and employment
(Wacker & Roberto, 2014).
Employment: In 1978, The Senior Community Service
Employment Program (SCSEP) became title V of the OAA
It is a community service and work-based job training
program for low-income, unemployed older adults.
Participants work an average of 20 hours a week, and are
paid the highest of federal, state or local minimum wage.
The goal is to place these older adults into unsubsidized
employment (Wacker & Roberto, 2014).
Health: In 1989, the AoA launched the Historically Black
Colleges and Universities Initiatives to address the health
needs of older African Americans. These initiatives resulted

39. in church-based health promotion programs and programs for
low-income inner-city and rural Georgia peer support
counselor programs (Wacker & Roberto, 2014).
Additionally, The Older Women’s Project created an
innovative health and wellness promotion program for older
minority and low-income women (Wacker & Roberto, 2014).
Legal Assistance: 1981 amendments required that AAAs put
forth an “adequate proportion” of title III-B funding toward
legal services for family issues, income benefits, age
discrimination, denied pension benefits, insurance fraud etc.
Elder Rights Protection Activities program under title VII is
designed to promote elder justice by means of preventing
elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation (Wacker &
Roberto,2014).
Transportation: Title III part B of the OAA authorizes
transportation services to be sub-contracted out to local
transportation providers to enable the access to supportive
and nutrition services (Wacker & Roberto, 2014).
Housing: Community development block grants and title III
monies from the OAA provide subsidized home repair
programs for emergency repairs for pluming, electricity, heat
and more (Wacker & Roberto, 2014).
Conversely, There is continued ageism in employment,

40. education, and popular society. There is continued racism,
sexism, and classism that is apparent in the statistics of the
older adult population and society at large. 26 percent of
older adults still live in the low-income bracket and poverty
rates differ by age, sex, and minority status as an outcome of
continued inequality. Women are almost twice as likely as
men to live in poverty and poverty rates among older Black,
Hispanic, and White adults are 23, 19, and 7 percent
respectively (Karger & Stoesz, 1994). The OAA does almost
nothing to alleviate the economic and social conditions that
facilitate inequalities in the older adult population in the first
place. Age segregated programs contribute to the
intergenerational tensions with regards to the nation’s
economic difficulties, and social class disparities are not
adequately addressed in the OAA (Wacker & Roberto,
2014).
Do the goals of the policy
contribute to a better quality of
life for the target population?
The intent of the OAA is to promote the dignity of older
adults by providing services and supports that enable them to
remain independent and engaged citizens within their
communities. The OAA requires that services be targeted to
those in greatest social and economic need in order to
address issues of food insecurity, health, social isolation, and
well-being.

41. Of the 10 objectives of the OAA, eight could be said to
directly address quality of life issues. They are: An adequate
income in retirement, the best possible physical and mental
health, restorative services, retirement in health, honor, and
dignity, pursuit of meaningful activity, immediate benefit
from proven research, efficient and available community
services which provide social assistance, and freedom,
independence, and autonomy in managing their own lives.
Some key services under the OAA that relate to quality of
life are as follows:
Nutrition: The 1972 amendments to the OAA added a major
service component, the National Nutrition program for Older
Americans as Title VII. Since then, the program has been
placed under Title III in the OAA (Wacker & Roberto,
2014). Adequate nutrition plays an invaluable role in
keeping adults healthy and independent as they age. Proper
nutrition reduces the risk of chronic diseases and related
disabilities, maintains the immune system, and supports
better mental and physical health. Malnutrition, including
being underweight or obese, is closely associated with
decreased functionality which hinders independent living.
Multi-purpose senior centers: The OAA played an
important part in the creation and support of multi-purpose

42. senior centers. These centers offer a wide range of leisure,
preventive health, civic, educational, cultural, fitness,
support, health screening, workshops, adult day care, meals,
and training services and activities that promote a higher
quality of life for older adults and their communities.
Health: In the past, health promotion programs largely
excluded older adults as they were not seen as benefiting
substantially from these programs. The 1992 amendment to
the OAA authorized the creation of Disease Prevention and
Health Services under Title III part F (Wacker & Roberto,
2014). Today, funding under the OAA provides health
promotion, educational health, evaluation screening,
prescription, and behavioral change support programs
(Wacker & Roberto, 2014).
Care management, Home care, and Respite care: The
OAA act identifies care management as a basic service
designed to avoid institutionalization. Care management
coordinates services that help frail elders remain in their
home while controlling the costs of such services (Wacker &
Roberto, 2014). Title III D of the OAA provides additional
financial support non-medical in home support services for
frail older adults like case management, lifeline systems, and
deep cleaning. Additionally, as part of the OAA 2000

43. amendments, the National Family Caregiver Support
Program was added under the OAA (Wacker & Roberto,
2014). The NFCSP is the largest support program under the
OAA since 1972. NFCSP funds are used for information and
referral services, individual counseling, support groups and
caregiver training, respite care, and supplemental services
(Wacker & Roberto, 2014).
The above services and programs are just some of the
many that support the objectives of the OAA and contributes
to a better quality of life for millions of older adults.
However, the OAA has struggled for the past 20 years from
chronic underfunding. Due to this limited funding, a
relatively small percentage of older adults receive title III
funded services (O’Shaughnessy & Erhardt, 2010). The
broad and extensive aspirations of the OAA in combination
with stagnant funding for an increased population of older
adults, leaves numerous individuals on extensive waiting lists
and underserved.
Will the goals adversely affect
the quality of life of the target
population?
The OAA targets vulnerable older adults who face
multiple barriers that can worsen economic insecurity, social
isolation, and various health problems. Unfortunately,
despite ample evidence that LGBT older adults are at a
heightened vulnerability and in need of unique aging

44. supports, LGBT older adults are invisible in this momentous
legislation (Sage, 2015).
LGBT older adults are more likely to live alone, lack
traditional caregiving supports, are at risk for isolation, face
health disparities, be victims of discrimination, suffer neglect
etc. These conditions accumulate into systematic disparities
for this population without reprieve from social policies, like
the OAA, while other targeted populations have their needs
addressed (Espinoza, 2012).
Older adults with mental disorders is another population
that has been largely overlooked. The OAA states as one of
its objectives that equal opportunity to enjoy “the best
possible physical and mental health services without regard
to economic status” should be provided to all older adults.
However, income security, physical health and nutrition has
taken precedence throughout the year with little attention
being paid to mental health issues of older adults.
Studies show that older adults are at greater risk of some
mental disorders than younger adults, and many of these
illnesses can be accurately diagnosed and treated.
Additionally, women are more likely than men to have
mental illness at 14 percent and 6.5 percent respectively
(Wacker & Roberto, 2014). Older adults from minority

45. groups use mental health services to a lesser extent, and rural
older adults are underserved by the mental health system.
The LGBT population is also at a greater risk due to chronic
social stigma and stressors (Wacker & Roberto, 2014).
These disparities are compounded by the fact that many
seniors are reluctant to seek treatment that could alleviate or
lessen symptoms and little has been done to promote help
seeking behavior, preventive care, or availability of mental
health services through the OAA (Wacker & Roberto, 2014).
These individuals have been essentially looked over.
Luckily for the first time in 2006, the AoA and the aging
network directed a substantial focus on the prevention and
treatment of mental disorders (Administration for
Community Living, 2015). The outcome to these new
mandates are yet to be recognized.
Are the goals of the policy
consistent with the values of
professional social work?
The Older Americans Act supports a variety of services
that enhance the health and well-being of older adults. These
services are essential to older adults’ independence and
dignity. Additionally, by law the OAA targets its services to
those in the greatest economic or social need, with particular
attention to those who are frail, live in rural districts, are low-
income, at risk for institutionalization, those with
Alzheimer’s, racial and ethnic minorities, and/or those with

46. limited English proficiency (Wacker & Roberto, 2014).
The 10 objectives, services provided under the OAA, and
targeting policies of the OAA are congruent with social work
values. Namely, Dignity and Worth of a Person: The OAA
supports the inherent dignity in all older adults; Service: The
OAA helps people to address social, environmental,
psychological, and biological problems; Social Justice: The
OAA pursues change and assistance for vulnerable older
adults and promotes decision making and input from the
older adult population.
The primary mission of social work is to enhance human
wellbeing and help meet basic human needs, with particular
attention to help the most vulnerable, oppressed, and
economically disadvantaged. The Older Americans Act
encompasses and supports this grand mission.

47. References
Administration for Community Living. (2006). Unofficial Compilation of the Older Americans
Act of 1965. Retrieved from http://www.aoa.gov/AoA_programs/OAA/oaa_full.asp
Administration for Community Living. (2015). Frequently Asked Questions. Retrieved from
http://www.aoa.gov/AOA_programs/OAA/resources/faqs.aspx#Mental
Administration on Aging. (2000). Older Americans Act: Title III Regulations, 45, 4, 1200-End.
Washington: U.S. Govt. Print. Off. Retrieved from
http://www.aoa.gov/AOA_programs/OAA/resources/doc/title_III_regs_sessions_1321.pd
f
Administration on Aging. (2013). Administration on Aging OAA Program Results. Retrieved
from http://www.aoa.acl.gov/Program_Results/OAA_Performance.aspx#national
Binstock, R. H. "Interest-Group Liberalism and the Politics of Aging." Gerontologist 12 (1972):
265–280.
Congress is Nobodies Lap Dog. (1965, November 5). Time. Vol. 59, No. 1
C.O.S, B. B. (1953, September 01). Symposium on EMPLOYMENT OF THE AGING. The
Journal of the Royal Society for the Promotion of Health, 73, 5, 505-511.
Detroit Area Agency on Aging. (2015). State Units on Aging. Retrieved from
http://www.daaa1a.org/DAAA/state-units-on-aging
Editorial: The White House Conference on Aging. (September 01, 1960). Ala Bulletin, 54, 8,
638-640.

48. Espinoza, R. (2012, November 27). Integrating LGBT older adults into the Older Americans Act.
Huffington post. Retrieved from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robert-
espinoza/integrating-lgbt-older-ad_b_1917037.html
Gafafer, W. M. (1957, December 01). Employment and Retirement of Elderly Workers. Public
Health Reports (1896-1970), 72, 12, 1060-1066.
Gelfand, D., & Bechill, W. (1991). The evolution of the older Americans act: a 25-year review of
the legislative changes. Generations, 15(3), 19-22.
Government Relations and Policy, National Coalition to Preserve Social Security and Medicare.
(2014, May). Older Americans Act. Retrieved from
http://www.ncpssm.org/PublicPolicy/OlderAmericans/Documents/ArticleID/1171/Older-
Americans-Act
James, G. E. O. R. G. E. (October 01, 1964). ADAPTING URBAN MENTAL HEALTH
SERVICES TO OUR AGING POPULATION*. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry,
34, 5, 840-851.
Jurkowski, E. T. (2008). Policy and program planning for older adults: realities and visions.
New York, Springer.
Karger, H. J., & Stoesz, D. (1994). American social welfare policy: a pluralist approach. New
York, Longman.
Laws. (2015). Functions of the Department of Education. Retrieved from
http://education.laws.com/department-of-education
Leadership Conference. (2015). How We Got Here: The Historical Roots of Housing
Segregation. Retrieved from
http://www.civilrights.org/publications/reports/fairhousing/historical.html

49. Marx, J.D. (2011). American social policy in the 1960’s and 1970’s.
Retrieved from http://www.socialwelfarehistory.com/eras/american-social-policy-in-the-
60s-and-70s/.
Milkis, S. M., & Mileur, J. M. (2005). The Great Society and the high tide of liberalism.
Amherst: University of Massachusetts Press
Moody, H. R., & Sasser, J. R. (2012). Aging: Concepts and controversies. Thousand Oaks, Calf:
SAGE Publications.
National Care Planning Council. (2014). About the National Aging Network. Retrieved from
http://www.longtermcarelink.net/eldercare/area_agencies_on_aging.htm).
NEW AID PROGRAM FOR HOUSING OF ELDERLY. (1961). Congressional Digest, 40(6/7),
171.
O’Shaughnessy, C., & Napili, A. (2006, December 18). The Older Americans Act: Programs,
Funding, and 2006 Reauthorization (P.L. 109-365). Retrieved from Congressional
Research Service
O’Shaughnessy, C., & Erhardt, A. (2010, July 9). The Basics Older Americans Act of 1965.
National Health Policy Forum. Retrieved from
http://www.hadpg.org/docs/Policy/Basics_OlderAmericansAct_07-09-10.pdf
Sage. (2015). Older Americans Act. Retrieved from http://www.sageusa.org/issues/oaa.cfm
Social Security Administration. (1948, May). Proposed Changes in Old-Age and Survivors
Insurance: Report of the Advisory Council on Social Security to Senate Finance
Committee. Social Security Bulletin. Volume 11, Number 5.
Social Security Administration. (2014). Historical Background and development of Social
Security. Retrieve from http://www.ssa.gov/history/briefhistory3.html

50. South Dakota Department of Social Services. (2015). The Older Americans Act. Retrieved from
http://dss.sd.gov/asa/services/oldact/
Tumulty, K. (2014, May 17). The Great Society at 50. Washington Post. Retrieved from
http://www.washingtonpost.com/sf/national/2014/05/17/the-great-society-at-50/
United States. (1965). Statistical Abstract of the United States, 1965, 86th annual edition.
Washington, DC: s.n..
United States. (1990). Celebrate!, America's coming of age: the Older Americans Act, 1965-
1990 : 25 years of achievement. Washington, D.C., U.S. Administration on Aging, Dept.
of Health and Human Services.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Care Financing Administration. (2000,
September). A Profile of Medicaid: 2000 Chartbook, Section 1. Retrieved from
http://www.policyalmanac.org/health/archive/hhs_medicaid.shtml
Wacker, R. R., & Roberto, K. A. (2014). Community resources for older adults: Programs and
services in an era of change.
White House Conference on Aging, & United States. (1961). Basic policy statements and
recommendations. Washington: U.S. Govt. Print. Off.
Wikisource. (2013). The Older Americans Act of 1965. Retrieved from
http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Older_Americans_Act_of_1965