For Immediate Release
June 25, 2021
Contact: Joellen Leavelle, jleavelle@n4a.org and 202.872.0888
 
WASHINGTON—The National Association of Area Agencies on Aging (n4a) applauds the Biden Administration for recognizing the important role that the programs and services delivered under the Older Americans Act (OAA) and through Medicaid home and community-based services (HCBS) waivers play in supporting the needs of older adults, people with disabilities and their caregivers as they remain healthy in their homes and communities.
 
The budget proposed by the Biden Administration would provide a lifeline for vulnerable older adults and caregivers. If enacted, the budget would help Area Agencies on Aging, Title VI aging programs and others in the Aging Network to address the escalating demand to offer older adults in communities around the country in-home services, meals, transportation, caregiver supports, evidence-based health and wellness programs and more.
 
President Biden’s bold budget priorities also lead the way for America to begin addressing critical gaps in its care economy, including a declining health care workforce and critical assistance for family and non-traditional caregivers. Specifically, the budget also contains the American Jobs Plan’s $400 billion proposal to expand Medicaid HCBS and bolster the direct care workforce. Taken together, the OAA and Medicaid HCBS investments reflect the Biden Administration’s commitment to better support older adults and people with disabilities in their desire to live and age safely, independently and with dignity at home.
 
n4a urges Congress to support these bold and long overdue investments in Medicaid HCBS and to provide OAA funding in FY 2022 that reflects the needs of our nation’s rapidly growing aging population and supports the cost-effective home and community-based aging services that successfully address those needs in every community across the country. The President’s recommended increases to OAA Title III B Supportive Services, Title III E National Family Caregiver Support Program and Title VI Native American Aging Programs are particularly welcomed by n4a as our members have told us that these are the programs they most need additional resources for in order to meet the continued and growing needs of older adults and caregivers. We also support the Administration’s recommendation to increase and rebalance the Title III C Nutrition Program to better meet the nutritional needs of older adults, today and tomorrow.
 
About n4a
The National Association of Area Agencies on Aging (n4a) is a 501(c)(3) membership association representing America’s national network of Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) and providing a voice in the nation’s capital for Title VI Native American aging programs. The mission of n4a is to build the capacity of its members so they can better help older adults and people with disabilities live with dignity and choices in their homes and communities for as long as possible.