National Volunteer Week 2011

by Kathy Greenlee

During National Volunteer Week 2011 (April 10-16), we at the Administration on Aging (AoA) acknowledge and celebrate the contributions of the volunteers who serve older Americans all across this nation. Volunteers have always been the backbone of programs administered under the Older Americans Act.

From its beginning AoA and its state and local networks have counted on volunteer support. Each year about ten million older people use Older Americans Act services, whose delivery largely depends upon the efforts of half a million volunteers.

This year we are highlighting the work of one group of extraordinary and committed volunteers – the more than 11,000 volunteers who serve long-term care residents through their state’s Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program.

More than three-fourths of states use volunteers to support the Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program, ensuring the rights, safety, and well-being of residents of nursing facilities, assisted living communities, board and care homes and similar facilities. Last year, more than 8,800 of these volunteers were trained and certified as long-term care ombudsmen, resolving complaints with and on behalf of residents.

Volunteer ombudsmen visit and listen to residents' concerns as well as problem-solve. Many residents of long-term care facilities sometimes have little or no contact with the outside world and some have few visitors. An ombudsman volunteer who visits regularly can make a huge difference in the quality of life of a resident.

If you are interested in serving as an ombudsman volunteer, you can contact the Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program in your state for more information about volunteer opportunities and qualifications. A good way to locate contact information is through the National Ombudsman Resource Center at http://www.ltcombudsman.org/.

In addition to the Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program, volunteers help the aging network in many other ways, including: assisting at group meals sites and delivering meals to home-bound elders; escorting and transporting frail older persons to health care services and grocery shopping; weatherizing the homes of low-income and frail older persons; counseling older persons in a variety of areas including health promotion, nutrition, legal and financial concerns; detecting and preventing health care fraud; and helping during disasters.

For more information about the wide variety of rewarding volunteering opportunities to benefit older Americans, check out the Administration on Aging Civic Engagement section at http://www.aoa.gov/AoARoot/AoA_Programs/Special_Projects/Civic_Engagement/index.aspx#resources

A sincere thank you from me and all of us at the Administration on Aging to each one of you who contribute your time, experience, expertise and compassion to benefit the lives of older Americans.

Kathy Greenlee

Source 1: Tapping Into Self-Pay : NCOA, National Council on Aging

The Older Americans Act (OAA) plays a vital role in funding services for our nation’s older adults. Yet, government funding has not kept pace with the rapidly growing aging population. As a result, nonprofits must look for other sources of revenue.

Some members of the aging network see an opportunity in charging clients for services. Others struggle with whether charging for services compromises their mission and how to charge fairly.
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Donna's Blog: On Tap For the 112th Congress

From the Generations United Policy Team:

During the 111th Congress, we saw the passage of sweeping reforms in health care and consumer protections, which defend Americans from hidden fees, abusive terms and deceptive practices when obtaining credit cards and mortgages. However, the incoming congress will have a full slate of new issues to consider, which range from deficit reduction to education reform. Here are some issues that we anticipate the 112th Congress to address:

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The Exchange - Putting Ideas to Work for Older Americans

Voice Your Ideas!

How would you improve aging services? The Older Americans Act is up for reauthorization in 2011. What should be in it?

Submit your ideas, big and small! Vote and comment on others’ ideas. Let’s identify the best ones, build consensus, then turn them into law.

Welcome, Age4Action! Please share your ideas in our Volunteering and Service and Workforce categories.
See more about The Exchange or browse the:

• Most Recent Ideas
• Top All-Time Ideas
• Ideas People Are Talking About

Or post your own!

Older Americans and People with Disabilities - Bridging the Disconnect. Information Bulletin # 320 (8/2010)

by Steve Gold

This Information Bulletin is an attempt to bridge and solidify advocates from two communities - older Americans and people with disabilities.  For many reasons, there has been a disconnect between them.

More than two years ago, we wrote "The Older Americans Act: Consumer Choice and Control over Long Term Care," (see February 9, 2007 Information Bulletin).  We reviewed how Congress' amendments to the Older Americans Act and its "Choices for Independence" began to provide services for people to remain in their homes, instead of going into nursing homes.  The Older Americans Act was for the first time really focused on community!

The OAA provided grants for States to develop a "single point of entry" for long-term care, so people would know what community-based services were available in order to avoid institutionalization.  This single point was through the "Aging and Disability Resource Centers" (ADRC).  It also adopted the "consumer model" so people could self-direct care and services.

The Older Americans Act is up for reauthorization in 2011. Yes folks, Congress will have to face whether or not the "Aging and Disability" centers will be refunded. This reauthorization will provide a forum and opportunity for these two communities to discuss how well they have worked together, how well the ADRCs are functioning, if they are serving both older Americans with disabilities and younger Americans with disabilities and what changes should occur.

There are a number of issues which we hope both communities understand and address:

1. Medicaid is the same funding stream for long-term community care and nursing homes for all people with disabilities, regardless of age.Cut-backs and reductions of Medicaid services impact every disabled person, and State legislatures' common attacks on services will hurt; people regardless of age.

2.Yes, these two communities do not agree on everything (e.g., assisted living, identifying oneself as having a disability), but there are unequivocally common interests. In an era of reductions and attacks by States on community-based services, it is critical to put aside differences and join to fight what the two communities have in common.

3. There really is power in numbers!  Can you imagine a State legislative hearing with twenty-five year old wheelchair uses holding hands with seventy-five year old wheelchair uses demanding their right to live in the community and not being dumped into nursing homes.

4.  How about next year, during the Congressional reauthorization hearings, joining forces? Tell Congress that all people with disabilities, regardless of age, want the right to receive services in their own homes.

5.  The increased Medicaid funds for Money Follows the Person grants must focus on getting anyone out of nursing homes who wants to live in the community - not just people with disabilities under 60 years old. Older Americans do not enter nursing homes because they want to; they do not have community-based services offered to them. If both communities combined their efforts, they could have a significant impact of enhancing waivers - especially in those 20 States that have not yet received MFP grants but probably will be applying for them very soon.

6. The Independent Living Centers serve many older Americans with disabilities. Yet, the AAAs and ILCs in most states keep each other at some distance. As the under 60s younger Americans with disabilities become the over 60s older Americans with disabilities, yes it really happens, the disability issues and culture will cross the age barrier. Let's hope that the people take the lead and make these organization really work together.
To not take the 2011 reauthorization as an opportunity to address these issues and to jointly work out strategies is perilous.

POWER concedes nothing without a struggle.

    Steve Gold, The Disability Odyssey continues

Back issues of other Information Bulletins are available online at http://www.stevegoldada.com with a searchable Archive at this site divided into different subjects.

To contact Steve Gold directly, write to stevegoldada@cs.com or call 215-627-7100.

Analysis from the Fifth National Survey of Older Americans Act Service Recipients

Mathematica Policy Research, recently released analysis from the Fifth National Survey of Older Americans Act Service Recipients. The resulting brief confirms that the Administration on Aging (AoA) is effectively reaching those most at risk of institutionalization and that Title III services play an important role in helping elderly adults remain in their community.

To read the brief in its entirety, please go to http://www.aoa.gov/AoARoot/Program_Results/docs/AoA-issue1_Nursing%20Homes.pdf

To learn more about Mathematica Policy Research, please go to http://www.mathematica-mpr.com/

AoA Nutrition Services Deliver Healthy Meals to Older Adults

Older adults have distinct nutritional needs and the lack of a good diet can lead to and worsen health problems, such osteoporosis, high blood pressure and heart disease.

For these reasons, nutrition services are a critical component of AoA programs. These services promote the health and well-being of older individuals by delivering nutritious meals to older adults that are in greatest need. AoA nutrition services include congregate nutrition services and home-delivered nutrition services. Congregate meal services ensure that healthy meals are prepared and distributed to older individuals in congregate facilities, such as, senior centers. Volunteers also deliver healthy meals to older individuals in their homes.

Services are targeted to individuals in greatest need and special consideration is given to low income individuals, minority individuals, those in rural communities, those with limited English proficiency and those at risk of institutional care.

The following data for FY2008 highlight the impact of nutrition services:

• AoA Home-Delivered Nutrition Services provided 146.4 million meals to 909,913 seniors and
• AoA Congregate Nutrition Services provided over 94.2 million meals to more than 1.6 million older adults living in community settings.

Resources
To learn more about AoA nutrition services, visit the Nutrition Services section.

To learn more about the nutritional needs of older adults, check http://www.Nutrition.gov.

Assistant Secretary Greenlee Addresses the Aging Network at the 35th Annual n4a Conference

Marking her one year anniversary, last month Assistant Secretary for Aging Kathy Greenlee spoke to those gathered on a range of issues. She shared her observations on the next reauthorization of the Older Americans Act (OAA) and the recently submitted Administration on Aging (AoA) budget which included an increase of more than one million dollars for its core programs.

To view the entire video of the Assistant Secretary’s presentation, please go to http://www.aoa.gov/AoARoot/Site_Utilities/Standard_External_Disclaimer.aspx?redirection=http://www.n4a.org/training-events/annual-conference/

To learn more about n4a, please go to http://www.n4a.org/

Annual Conference and Tradeshow | n4a

States Awarded $700,000 for Enhanced Access to Legal Services for Older Americans

HHS Assistant Secretary for Aging Kathy Greenlee has announced the award of $700,000 to seven states to help at-risk older Americans have better access legal services.

Awards of $100,000 each were made to legal service provider organizations in Alaska, Delaware, Georgia, Massachusetts, Texas, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia. These grants will bring aging and legal service delivery systems together to improve efforts to protect the independence, health, and financial security of older adults. Many older individuals are facing critical threats to their independence, including the loss of their homes through foreclosure, the destruction of nest eggs through consumer scams, the risk of elder abuse, the challenges in accessing important public benefits, as well as the prevalence of health care fraud and financial exploitation.

“We know there are older adults who need legal assistance from time to time. This can be overwhelming as well as costly especially on a fixed income,” said Assistant Secretary Greenlee. “As a former elder law attorney, I know first hand that these programs help at-risk older adults and their caregivers avoid and address legal situations that may threaten their independence and quality of life.”

The grantees will work to develop statewide legal service delivery systems that coordinate efforts of senior legal help-lines, pro-bono attorneys, law school clinics, self-help sites, and Older Americans Act-funded legal services providers to ensure maximum impact from limited resources. The target populations are underserved seniors, with particular emphasis upon low-income, minority, rural, homebound, Native American, and limited-English speaking older individuals.

Through the “Model Approaches to Statewide Legal Assistance Systems” (Model Approaches) demonstration grants, the Administration on Aging (AoA) assists states in integrating help-lines and other low-cost legal assistance mechanisms as critical, permanent, and sustained components of comprehensive legal services delivery programs across the country. Upon completion of the three-year grant period, the Model Approaches projects will present cost-effective examples of well-integrated legal services delivery systems and strategies that increase overall service access for elders. It is anticipated that innovative service delivery models will emerge from these collaborative projects that can be replicated in other states that wish to target scarce resources and increase legal services to seniors in greatest social or economic need.

The Administration on Aging has now funded 31 Model Approaches projects to date. More information about AoA services and programs may be found at www.aoa.gov. For more information on AoA’s Legal Services programs, please visit:
http://www.aoa.gov/AoARoot/AoA_Programs/Elder_Rights/Legal/index.aspx

HHS Seeking Nominations for Workforce Advisory Panel by June 18, 2010

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In the June 16 Federal Register, The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced it is establishing and seeking nominations for  a new Personal Care Attendants Workforce Advisory Panel, under the Community Living Assistance Services and Support (CLASS) Act.

The Advisory Panel will be comprised of 15 members appointed by the Secretary of HHS from among members of the general public who are individuals who have distinguished themselves in the fields of long-term services and supports; aging and disability populations and services; practices that help reduce high personal care attendant workforce vacancy and turnover rates; Medicaid; Medicare, the Older Americans Act and the Workforce Investment Systems; community residential services; and policy analysis and development related to the financing, access, provision and quality of health care services.

Each member of the Advisory Panel shall be appointed for a term of 2 years.

Nominations shall be submitted by no later than June 18, 2010 to:
    Margaret Reiser,
    U.S. Department of Health and Human Services,
    200 Independence Avenue, S.W. Room 415F,
    Washington D.C., 20201,

    Phone (202) 690-7858,
    Fax (202) 690-7383.

For more information about the Personal Care Attendants Workforce Advisory Panel, please see the Federal Register link below:
http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/pdf/2010-14447.pdf

  

Ombudsman: Director of Iowa Dept. on Aging had employee 'hit list' | The Des Moines Register

The director of the Iowa Department on Aging reportedly created a "hit list" of employees he wanted to force from the agency, Iowa's chief advocate for the elderly says.

Iowa Long-Term Care Ombudsman Jeanne Yordi made the allegation in a letter Monday to Gov. Chet Culver.

Yordi told the governor she was among the targeted workers at the Department on Aging. She said she had planned to take early retirement because she had been subjected to a hostile work environment created by department director John McCalley and because she had been "forced to violate federal law."
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New Director of the AoA Office of Long Term Care Ombudsman Programs Announced

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Message from Assistant Secretary for Aging Kathy Greenlee congratulating the new Director of the AoA Office of Long-Term Care Ombudsman Programs.

It is my pleasure to announce that Becky Kurtz has agreed to join AoA as our new Director of the Office of Long Term Care Ombudsman Programs. Since 1994, Becky has served as the Georgia State Long Term Care Ombudsman in Atlanta. Prior to that position, Becky was the Advocacy Coordinator for the Senior Citizens Advocacy Project in the Atlanta Legal Aid Society as well as serving as Assistant Corporation Counsel for the City of New York Law Department. Becky has a Juris Doctorate from Columbia University School of Law and a B.S. from Emory & Henry College in Emory, Virginia.

I am very excited that Becky will be joining AoA. As the Older Americans Act statute states, "The Director shall serve as an effective and visible advocate on behalf of older individuals who reside in long term care facilities, within the Department of Health and Human Services and with other departments, agencies, and instrumentalities of the Federal government regarding all Federal policies affecting such individuals."

For many years I have considered her one of the most effective and committed state long term care ombudsmen. I look forward to working with her on behalf of the 1.6 million older people who live in nursing homes and other residential care settings. She is an exceptional advocate. Please join me in welcoming Becky to AoA.

TIME GOES BY | GRAY MATTERS: Hunger and Shame

By Saul Friedman
My mother, may she rest in peace, would have called this a shanda, the Yiddish word for a shame, something you’re not proud of and that you’d rather your neighbor doesn’t find out.

So shame is what I thought about and felt when I read the latest survey by academic researchers for the Meals on Wheels Association of America. It found that in 2008, at the beginning of this Great Recession, nearly six percent of Americans over the age of 60 - more than 2.7 million - suffered from hunger. Not just the lack of enough food, but hunger. In the United States of America in the 21st Century.

But the deeper shame was in the 2009 survey which found that the trend upward was especially discernible between 2001 and 2007 - the years of tax cuts for the wealthy and a couple of pointless wars - when the number of older people (especially women) experiencing hunger rose by 700,000 to upwards of 3 million.

Now, as a result of the recession, when many programs for the aged and poor were reduced, partly to pay for those tax cuts, that figure has reached to over 3 million and with unemployment more than 10 percent, the figure is still climbing.

The highest concentration of hunger risk among older people are in those states with low or no income taxes and fewer social insurance programs: Mississippi, South Carolina, Arkansas, Texas, New Mexico, Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana, North Carolina and Oklahoma. These states, most of them conservative, also have higher concentration people with only a high school education, plus a higher number of blacks and Hispanics and older people living in poverty. The south remains the most ignorant and badly-led part of the country.
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Presidential Proclamation - Older Americans Month

Presidential Proclamation--Older Americans Month

A PROCLAMATION

Older Americans have lived through momentous and trying times in our history, and they have strengthened our national character. Their experience and wisdom connect us to the past and help us meet the challenges of the present. During Older Americans Month, we show our support and appreciation for these treasured individuals who have contributed so much to our Nation.

This year's theme for Older Americans Month, "Age Strong, Live Long," recognizes the efforts of people of all ages to promote the well-being, community involvement, and independence of senior citizens. As Americans live longer, healthier, and more productive lives, many are starting second careers and continuing to be involved in their communities. Dedicated older Americans are also answering the call to serve through the Corporation for National and Community Service's Senior Corps.

My Administration is committed to ensuring older Americans can age strong and live long. By strengthening Medicare and Medicaid, while protecting Social Security, we help ensure all Americans can age with dignity. The recently enacted Affordable Care Act strengthens Medicare by providing free preventive care starting next year, enhancing care coordination, and gradually closing the "donut hole" gap in prescription drug coverage. In addition, this law includes provisions to help prevent and eliminate elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation. Along with the Middle Class Task Force's Caregiver Initiative, we are investing in wellness and prevention programs to help seniors remain healthy and close to their loved ones. The Administration on Aging's network of State and local organizations provides services to older Americans that help prevent unnecessary hospitalization or institutionalization. We must also protect seniors by expanding efforts to fight fraud, waste, and abuse in Medicare and Medicaid through national and State efforts, as well as community-based programs that empower retirees to detect and defend against health care fraud.

Many of our Nation's older men and women have worked tirelessly and sacrificed so their children could achieve something greater. Their passion and experience inspire us all and we are privileged to honor and care for the generations whose legacy continues to enrich our Nation and shape our future.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim May 2010 as Older Americans Month. I call upon citizens of all ages to honor older Americans this month with appropriate ceremonies and activities.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-eighth day of April, in the year of our Lord two thousand ten, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-fourth.

BARACK OBAMA

AoA Proposes Revisions to the State Program Report

SUMMARY:
The Administration on Aging(AoA) is announcing that the proposed collection of information has been submitted to the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) for review and clearance under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

FY 2011 reporting year and thereafter, while the current reporting, OMB Approval Number 0985–0008, will be extended to the end of the FY 2010 reporting cycle. The proposed FY 2011 version may be found on the AoA web site link entitled Proposed SPR for Review available at http://www.aoa.gov/AoARoot/Program_Results/docs/SPRDraft_form_2010_draft.pdf.

AoA estimates the burden of this collection of information as follows: 2,828 hours

DATES: Submit written comments on the collection of information by May 14, 2010.

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DoL, AoA Listening Session on Reauthorization of the Senior Community Service Employment Program

SAVE THE DATE! – Monday, April 26th

Assistant Secretary of Labor (DOL - Employment and Training Administration), Jane Oates, and Assistant Secretary for Aging (HHS – Administration on Aging) Kathy Greenlee, will be conducting a joint listening forum via webinar format on Monday, April 26th from 1:00 to 3:00 EDT.  The purpose of the webinar will be to solicit input on reauthorization of Title V of the Older Americans Act, Senior Community Services Employment Program (SCSEP), and other senior workforce issues.  Additional details including how to access the webinar will follow early next week.   

OIG Posts Compendium of Unimplemented Recommendations 3/11

The "Compendium of Unimplemented Office of Inspector General Recommendations" combines the formerly published "Red Book" (unimplemented monetary recommendations) and the "Orange Book" (unimplemented nonmonetary recommendations) into one publication. The "Red Book" focused on significant Office of Inspector General (OIG) cost-saving recommendations that had not been fully implemented. The "Orange Book" focused on unimplemented recommendations to improve HHS programs. Full implementation of the recommendations in this compendium could achieve substantial savings and increase the effectiveness of the Department's programs.

Each narrative contains a background summary, findings, recommendation(s), status, report number(s), and report issue date(s). In the case of monetary recommendations, there is also an estimate of the savings that may be achieved by implementing the recommendations. The estimated value of each monetary recommendation is based on the specifics of each review and not extrapolated beyond the scope of the original review. The actual savings to be achieved depends on the specific legislative, regulatory, or administrative actions. However, the estimates provide a general indication of the magnitude of savings possible.

Link to Report

KOHL MEETS WITH ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR AGING KATHY GREENLEE

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U.S. Senator Herb Kohl (D-WI), Chairman of the Senate Special Committee on Aging, met with Assistant Secretary of Aging Kathy Greenlee to discuss the Older Americans Act, which is up for reauthorization in 2011. Traditionally, the Aging Committee takes a lead role in working with the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee to reauthorize the statute that covers the programs administered by the Administration on Aging.

“The Older Americans Act serves as the pipeline for all the local agencies that offer nutrition programs, adult protective services, and legal programs, as well as those that provide caregiver support and transportation assistance,” said Kohl. “These are the crucial services so many seniors rely on in their daily lives, and I am looking forward to revisiting and improving this important legislation for America’s growing aging population.”

Kohl and Greenlee also discussed the Administration on Aging’s (AoA) expanded caregiving initiative, which stems from the work of the White House Task Force on Middle Class Families. The initiative will help families improve the care they provide to aging relatives and support seniors trying to remain independent in their communities. An estimated 38 million Americans provide unpaid care to an aging relative, including approximately 23 million caregivers with jobs and 12 million who are also caring for their own children. Roughly half of the $102.5 million requested in the FY2011 budget for this initiative would provide home and community-based services to seniors, and half would provide services to caregivers, including respite.

Both of these aims fall in line with Chairman Kohl’s Aging Committee agenda. At the beginning of the 110th Congress, Kohl was joined by Senators Blanche Lincoln (D-AR) and Bob Casey (D-PA) in introducing legislation to offer training and support to family caregivers as part of an overall effort to address the impending severe shortage of health care workers who are adequately skilled and prepared to care for older Americans. The Retooling the Health Care Workforce for an Aging America Act (S. 245) incorporates major recommendations put forth in a 2008 Institute of Medicine (IOM) report. Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) introduced a companion bill in the U.S. House of Representatives. Provisions of the bill have been included in both the Senate, House, and White House health reform proposals.

Kohl has also introduced, with Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), the Home and Community Balancing Incentives Act (S. 1256) to reform long-term care systems by offering enhanced federal Medicaid matching rates to states that are willing to implement home and community-based health care programs. With the nation’s population aging at a rapid rate, more and more Americans will need long-term care services and supports to help them with day-to-day activities. The bill will provide states with resources and financial incentives to broaden the range of Medicaid services offered to people in their homes and communities, allowing more of them to live as independently as possible, while also controlling state costs. Provisions of the bill have been included in both the Senate and White House health reform proposals.

Older Americans Act Reauthorization Input Opportunitites

Dear Colleagues and Consumers,

Since 1965, the Older Americans Act (OAA) has gained recognition as a unique and highly regarded statute that has stimulated the development of a comprehensive and coordinated service system. This system has contributed greatly to enhancing the lives of older individuals, family caregivers, and persons with disabilities. In 2011 Congress will consider reauthorization and amendments to the Act effective in FY 2012. In anticipation of this process, the Administration on Aging (AoA) is soliciting input concerning the reauthorization through three mechanisms:

(1) AoA-Convened Listening Forums;

(2) OAA Reauthorization Input Events; and

(3) Direct Input via the AoA Website.

AoA-Convened Listening Forums will be held in three cities. The input provided will be recorded, compiled and summarized by Scripps Gerontology Center. The dates and locations of the national listening forums are:


Thursday, February 18, 2010 Dallas, TX
Embassy Suites Hotel Dallas Near the Galleria
14021 Noel Road
Dallas, Texas 75240
(972) 354-3659


Thursday, February 25, 2010 Washington, DC
The Westin Alexandria-DC, Alexandria, VA
400 Courthouse Square
Alexandria, VA 22314
(703) 253-8628


Wednesday, March 3, 2010 San Francisco, CA
Hyatt Regency San Francisco
5 Embarcadero Center
San Francisco, CA 94111
(415) 981-3638

The forums in Dallas and San Francisco will convene at 9:00 a.m. and conclude at 4:30 p.m. They will begin with morning panel sessions organized to focus on a limited number of national topic areas in the following broad categories:

(1) Elder Rights and Elder Justice;

(2) Prevention & Wellness – Healthy Aging; and

(3) Aging Network Infrastructure for Serving Diverse Needs.

The Washington DC forum will also convene at 9:00 a.m. and conclude at 4:30 p.m. It will include the 3 categories of topics above, as well as a fourth category, Capacity of the Aging Network.

Following the panel sessions, each forum will host a general session to allow participants to present their views on the reauthorization of the OAA. In order to provide as many people as possible the opportunity to offer input, each participant will be limited to three minutes. Persons planning to make presentations during the general session should pre-register with Abbe Lackmeyer, 866-598-0102, linscoae@muohio.edu to reserve a time slot. If all slots are not filled through pre-registration, a limited number of on-site time slots may be available.

OAA Reauthorization Input Events may be held by any national, state, tribal, regional or local organization. These can range from workshops, board meetings, public forums, or conferences designed to solicit public input regarding issues to be considered during the next reauthorization of the OAA. Following the events, summary reports developed by the sponsoring organization(s) may be submitted to AoA at http://survey.muohio.edu/snaponline/siam/surveylanding/interviewer.asp?sid=513ECB3B71D90C84B48CA139C1E34C1D555C4E8E56. So that we may more easily track this important input, please pre-register your events.

Direct Input via the AoA Website will provide an opportunity for any individual or entity to provide input related to reauthorization of the OAA separate from an organized event or listening forum. Submit input via the AoA website at this link.

Please note I will be discussing some of the key program/policy issues likely to be a part of the OAA reauthorization during a Critical Issues session at the NCOA/ASA conference on March 16, 2010. I will be joined by leaders within NCOA, ASA and the National Aging Network. The Critical Issues session will be followed on Wednesday and Thursday by NCOA/ASA convened workshops designed to permit attendees to address and brainstorm additional issues to be considered during reauthorization.

However you choose to present your views on the reauthorization of the OAA, I look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,
Kathy Greenlee
Assistant Secretary for Aging

Older Americans Act Reauthorization Forums - Save the Date(s)

In advance of the 2011 reauthorization of the Older Americans Act, the Administration on Aging (AoA) plans to convene a series of Reauthorization Listening Forums early in 2010 to get input from the aging network, stakeholders, policymakers and the public (in particular older Americans) on key issues that will impact our growing aging population and their families. The dates and locations have just been decided, and we wanted to share this information with you.

Dallas (Regions IV, VI, VII and Title VI representatives) on February 18th;

Washington, DC Metro Area (Regions I, II, and V) on February 25th; and

San Francisco (Regions VIII, IX, X and Title VI representatives) on March 3rd

In addition, a separate listening forum will be held at the NCOA/ASA Annual Conference in Chicago on March 16th.