AARPRI to Senators: Reauthorize Older Americans Act

Older Rhode Islanders rely on Older American Act services

(May 8, 2015) In letters to Rhode Island Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse, AARP State Director Kathleen Connell today called for their votes to reauthorize the Older Americans Act.

"The Older Americans Act provides a foundation that allows Rhode Island to continue to be a great place for older Americans to call home," Connell said. Here is the full text of the letters:

 


Dear Senator:

AARP Rhode Island urges you to support S. 192 to reauthorize the Older Americans Act (OAA).  Legislation reauthorizing the important programs of the OAA was passed out of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee in January with a strong bipartisan vote. We need the full Senate to consider the bill as soon as possible to renew this Act, which expired in 2011. We encourage you to ask Senate leadership to bring OAA reauthorization to the floor for a vote and ask you to urge fellow Senators to support S.192.

The Older Americans Act provides a foundation that allows Rhode Island to continue to be a great place for older Americans to call home.  Since enacted into law in 1965, our most vulnerable older Rhode Islanders have relied on the services provided by the OAA for their health, economic security, civic engagement and elder justice resources. The combined impact of these services outweighs any single concern and helps our state’s older adults live independently by:

• Supporting nutrition programs (including home delivered meals and congregate meals);
• Funding senior centers that disseminate information and provide service referrals;
• Providing home and community-based services (including preventive health services and transportation assistance);
• Assisting family caregivers with information and referral, counseling and respite care;
• Preventing and detecting elder abuse through the Long Term Care Ombudsmen; and
• Providing local part-time community service employment and training.

Thank you in advance again for being a voice for older Rhode Islanders in Congress. We greatly appreciate your responsible and fiscally pragmatic approach to protecting and maintaining vital OAA programs.  Please contact me in our AARP State Office if you have any questions.

Sincerely,

Kathleen Connell
State Director, AARP Rhode Island
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