I pledge to protect and strengthen the Older Americans Act (OAA), so it can continue to help millions of older Americans remain healthy, economically secure, and independent in their communities.

• Since 1965, the OAA has provided a wide range of community-based services and supports to help keep seniors healthy, economically secure, independent, and active in their homes and communities. These include home-delivered and congregate nutrition, health promotion and disease prevention, family caregiver support, benefits access, worker training and employment, senior centers, transportation, and protection against abuse and neglect.
• The OAA should be protected so that it can continue to empower the rising number of older Americans to remain independent and productive, thereby saving taxpayer dollars by: (1) reducing premature nursing home placement; (2) preventing and alleviating malnutrition; (3) managing chronic health conditions; and (4) engaging well older adults to help meet the needs of their communities and vulnerable peers. 
• The OAA should be strengthened through reauthorization, which provides an important opportunity to modernize and improve services by supporting efficiencies and innovations, reassessing the Act’s successes and limitations, and addressing its ability to effectively serve older Americans in need.