Older Americans Act

Even After Covid, Could Congress Ignore The Long-Term Care Needs Of Older Adults?

Is it possible that Congress will do nothing to improve long-term services and supports for older adults and younger people with disabilities or assist their families? Even after 603,000 people over age 65 were killed by Covid-19 in the past two years. Yes, it is possible. The House version of President Biden’s Build Back Better plan included many provisions aimed [...]

By |2022-01-03T12:29:47-05:00January 3rd, 2022|long term care reform|0 Comments

The House Build Back Better Bill Makes Historic Changes for Older Adults, But Care Gaps Remain

The Build Back Better social spending bill the House passed this morning includes a long list of important changes aimed at improving the quality of life of older adults. There is much left to be done, and even this bill may be pared back in the Senate. But following the pandemic catastrophe for older adults, it would be significant progress. [...]

By |2021-11-19T15:16:56-05:00November 19th, 2021|long term care reform|0 Comments

Is Congress About To Take Historic Steps To Enhance Elder Care?

Not since the 1960s have so many critical policy issues that affect older adults come together in Congress at one time. Over the next few months, lawmakers will decide whether to both increase and fundamentally refocus federal support for older adults and younger people with disabilities. Those reforms would assist those who need long-term services and supports and many healthy [...]

By |2021-09-15T10:38:08-04:00September 15th, 2021|Aging, long term care reform, Uncategorized|0 Comments

FDA’s Approval Of A New Alzheimer’s Drug Shows What’s Wrong With The Way We Care For Frail Older Adults

FDA’s decision last week to approve a new “Alzheimer’s disease treatment,” and the buzz that surrounds it, is a symptom of all that is wrong with the way we care for frail older adults in the US. Rather than providing the supports that people with chronic conditions desperately need, and that evidence shows works, we prefer to chase butterflies. In [...]

By |2021-06-15T11:54:04-04:00June 15th, 2021|long-term care, Uncategorized|0 Comments

Is The Shift Of Medicaid Long-Term Care From Nursing Facilities To Home About To Accelerate?

The massive pandemic relief bill that the House is likely to approve by the end of this week includes billions of dollars in new funding for government long-term services and supports (LTSS) for frail older adults and young people with disabilities. But, paradoxically, the most far-reaching change may be from a temporary funding increase for Medicaid home and community-based services [...]

By |2021-02-24T15:04:09-05:00February 24th, 2021|Medicaid|8 Comments

Too Many Older Adults Are Needlessly Falling, Endangering Themselves and Costing Billions

One of every three older Americans falls every year. Among those 75 and older, the number of falls-related deaths tripled to more than 25,000 from 2000 to 2016. Even after adjusting for age, the mortality rate for falls roughly doubled over that period. Of every 100,000 people age 75 and older, 122 will die from a fall. Falls not only [...]

By |2019-06-05T10:26:04-04:00June 5th, 2019|Caregiver tips|0 Comments

The Federal Government Will Spend Half Its Budget On Older Adults In Ten Years

In 10 years, the federal government will spend half its budget (not counting interest on the debt) on those aged 65 and older. The inexorable aging of the Baby Boom generation means that a growing share of federal spending will be used to support older adults—mostly for health care and retirement benefits. As CBO importantly notes, it is misleading to [...]

By |2019-02-01T09:25:16-05:00February 1st, 2019|Aging|0 Comments

What The New Congress Will Mean For Medicare And Other Issues For Older Adults

After the new Congress is sworn in next January it may address several issues that directly affect the well-being of older adults as well as younger people with disabilities. The House, which will be controlled by Democrats, and the Senate, still run by Republicans, will have very different perspectives on these issues but both chambers are likely to confront the [...]

By |2018-11-26T13:00:07-05:00November 26th, 2018|long term care reform, Medicare|0 Comments

What the Trump Budget Would Mean For Seniors

While most proposals in President Trump’s newly released 2019 budget are unlikely to become law, the fiscal framework does show the White House’s priorities for government over the coming year. And those apparently don’t include support for older adults, younger people with disabilities, or their families. For example, the budget would: Restructure the Medicare drug benefit to reduce costs for [...]

By |2018-02-14T10:42:20-05:00February 14th, 2018|Federal senior services programs, Medicare|2 Comments

Trump’s Budget Framework Points To Big Cuts In Programs For Seniors

President Trump’s initial budget framework would slash programs for seniors and younger people with disabilities, especially those aiming to remain at home rather than move to a nursing home or other residential care. Combined with the House GOP’s proposed health plan, it may severely limit access to federally-funded medical care, personal assistance, and other supports and services. The Trump fiscal [...]

By |2017-03-17T09:02:29-04:00March 17th, 2017|Donald Trump|2 Comments