Advocacy Work and the Older Americans Act
Advocacy Work and the Older Americans Act
The Senior Alliance connects older adults, adults with disabilities, and their caregivers in southern and western Wayne County, Michigan, with resources, services, and programs to help them thrive. One of the most important aspects of our work is advocacy, where we act as the voice of those we serve in Lansing and Washington D.C.
The Senior Alliance Advocacy Platform
We believe that nutrition, health, and housing should be easier to access for older adults and adults with disabilities, and this belief is the foundation of our advocacy work. We advocate on an array of issues:
● Elimination of waitlists
● Home-delivered meals (Meals-on-Wheels)
● Safety net programs
● Elder abuse justice and prevention
● MI Choice Waiver program
● Community-based in-home services
● Transportation
● Housing options
● Direct care workforce
● Michigan Medicaid/Medicare Assistance Program (MMAP)
● Broadband Internet access
● Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP)
● Other services that help older adults and adults with disabilities thrive where they are
We advocate for those we serve by monitoring, evaluating, and commenting on all policies, programs, hearings, levies, and community actions that will affect older adults and adults with disabilities, as directed by the Older Americans Act.
Our advocacy work informs elected officials at all levels of government about the desires, needs, health, and interests of older adults in our service area.
The Older Americans Act
In response to the lack of services available to older adults, Congress passed the Older Americans Act (OAA) in 1965. Signed into law by President Lyndon Johnson, the OAA established the Administration on Aging (AoA) to oversee federal policies concerning older Americans. One initial responsibility of the AoA was distributing grants to provide community planning, social services, research and development projects, and personnel training in the field of aging. The OAA also gave birth to the Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs), which serve as a resource for aging services information. AAAs are also the community’s link to the variety of OAA programs and services funded by Congress.
Today, the OAA, is the guiding light for aging service delivery of critical programs, such as nutritional services. Because the OAA instructs AAAs to be advocates, The Senior Alliance also partners with the Area Agencies on Aging Association of Michigan, the Silver Key Coalition, USAging, Meals on Wheels America, and the American Society on Aging to raise the voices of older adults in our community.
If you’re interested in learning more about the advocacy work of The Senior Alliance, getting involved with our advocacy efforts, or writing to your legislators, visit the advocacy platform on our website at thesenioralliance.org/advocacy.