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Congress Reauthorizes Older Americans Act

Wed, 11/01/2000 - 1:00am — Karen Stevenson
Description: 

Congress nearly unanimously reauthorized the Older Americans Act (HR 782), five years after the original act expired. The bill now goes to President Clinton, who is expected to sign it. This bill, among other things, would create a Family Caregiver Support program funded by both federal and state money which would provide:

* information to caregivers about available services
* assistance to caregivers in gaining access to the services
* individual counseling, organization of support groups, and caregiver training to caregivers to assist the caregivers in making decisions and solving problems relating to their caregiving roles
* respite care to enable caregivers to be temporarily relieved from their caregiving responsibilities
* supplemental services, on a limited basis, to complement the care provided by caregivers

The bill also allows states to require consumers to contribute to the cost of the programs they use, if they are able to do so, and creates a number of grants for innovation projects that would improve the delivery of information and services to older Americans.

Congress nearly unanimously reauthorized the Older Americans Act (HR 782), five years after the original act expired. The bill now goes to President Clinton, who is expected to sign it. This bill, among other things, would create a Family Caregiver Support program funded by both federal and state money which would provide:

* information to caregivers about available services
* assistance to caregivers in gaining access to the services
* individual counseling, organization of support groups, and caregiver training to caregivers to assist the caregivers in making decisions and solving problems relating to their caregiving roles
* respite care to enable caregivers to be temporarily relieved from their caregiving responsibilities
* supplemental services, on a limited basis, to complement the care provided by caregivers

The bill also allows states to require consumers to contribute to the cost of the programs they use, if they are able to do so, and creates a number of grants for innovation projects that would improve the delivery of information and services to older Americans.