Older Americans Act: Funding

Angela Napili
Information Research Specialist

Kirsten J. Colello
Acting Section Research Manager

The Older Americans Act (OAA) is the major federal vehicle for the delivery of social and nutrition services for older persons. These include supportive services, congregate nutrition services (meals served at group sites such as senior centers, community centers, schools, churches, or senior housing complexes), home-delivered nutrition services, family caregiver support, community service employment, the long-term care ombudsman program, and services to prevent the abuse, neglect and exploitation of older persons. The OAA also supports grants to older Native Americans and research, training, and demonstration activities. Funding for most OAA programs is provided through appropriations legislation for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (Labor-HHS-Education). 

The FY2010 Consolidated Appropriations Act (P.L. 111-117), signed into law December 16, 2009, provides $2.328 billion for OAA programs in FY2010. 

The FY2009 Omnibus Appropriations Act (P.L. 111-8) provided $2.052 billion for OAA programs for FY2009. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA, P.L. 111- 5) provided $220.0 million in additional FY2009 funding ($100.0 million for nutrition programs and $120.0 million for the Title V, Community Service Employment for Older Americans Program, or CSEOA). Total FY2009 OAA funding was $2.272 billion. 

The FY2010 funding level for OAA programs is a 13% increase over the funding provided by the FY2009 Omnibus Appropriations Act, and a 2% increase over total FY2009 funding (including both the Omnibus and ARRA). CSEOA received the bulk of this increased funding. Congress appropriated $825.4 million to CSEOA in FY2010, compared with $691.9 million in FY2009 funding ($571.9 million from the FY2009 Omnibus, and $120.0 million from ARRA). 

The President's FY2011 Budget proposes $2.209 billion for OAA programs, 5% less than the FY2010 level. CSEOA would receive $600.425 million, 27% less than its FY2010 level. 

The FY2011 Budget proposes a $102.5 million Caregiver Initiative that would increase funding for services to help family caregivers. The Caregiver Initiative proposes a $48.0 million increase for supportive services and a $48.0 million increase for family caregiver support services, both under OAA's Title III. The Caregiver Initiative also proposes a $2.0 million increase for Native American supportive services and a $2.0 million increase for Native American caregiver support services, both under Title VI. Finally, the Caregiver Initiative proposes a $2.5 million increase for Lifespan Respite Care. 

On March 23, 2010, President Obama signed into law a comprehensive health care reform bill, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA; P.L. 111-148). Among other things, the act appropriates $10 million in mandatory spending for Aging and Disability Resource Centers (ADRCs) through FY2014. It also authorizes additional funding to the aging network, including $15.0 million to ADRCs and $10.0 million to Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) for outreach and education programs related to Medicare low-income assistance programs. These funds are available for obligation through FY2012. 

This report provides details of FY2010 funding and the FY2011 budget request for OAA as well as for programs such as the Alzheimer's Disease Supportive Services Program (ADSSP) and Lifespan Respite Care Program which are administered by the Administration on Aging (AOA), but authorized under the Public Health Service Act (PHSA).


Date of Report: April 9, 2010
Number of Pages: 27
Order Number: RL33880
Price: $29.95

Document available via e-mail as a pdf file or in paper form.
To order, e-mail Penny Hill Press or call us at 301-253-0881. Provide a Visa, MasterCard, American Express, or Discover card number, expiration date, and name on the card. Indicate whether you want e-mail or postal delivery. Phone orders are preferred and receive priority processing.