USAging conference Local Agencies Serving the People They Know
I had the honor of attending the yearly USAging conference again this year and it helped me remember how important the people are who care for, encourage, and provide service to older Americans. This conference supports the nationwide network of Area Agencies on Aging and offers a forum for discovering new tools and methods for supporting seniors and a place to share ideas and experience. I am always reminded at this conference how important these local area agencies are to those people they serve.
A little background . . . in the late 1950s and early 1960s nearly half of Americans over the age 65 were living in poverty. There was conference on aging and out of that came the Older Americans Act (OAA) which established the Administration on Aging. They then established the State Units on Aging and Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs or triple As). The National Association of Areas Agencies on Aging (its original name was N4A) was formed in 1975 to advocate for AAAs and is now USAging. These different entities work together to help older adults to:
Age at home
Access meals and transportation
Receive caregiver support
Get protection from abuse
Stay connected to their communities
The OAA remains the primary federal law supporting home- and community-based services for older adults. To me, the most important part of this program are the more than 600 local area agencies that know and support the older adults they serve. These local agencies provide services like in-home assistance, home-delivered meals, congregate meals (meals at senior centers), transportation, caregiver support, legal services, and many other services. In spite of the fact that many seniors don’t know that the services they enjoy and often rely on are part of this nationwide network of agencies funded by the Older Americans Act, this support helps older adults live independently, safely, and with dignity in their communities.
This year’s conference was noticeably more upbeat than last year’s. In 2025, they were weathering cuts to their programs and the OAA was still not renewed. This year, the Senate had just passed the new OAA, and there is sense of optimism that the House will move quickly to pass it and get it signed into law. With this optimism also came the knowledge that the expected small increases in funding will not offset the impact of the inflation in service costs that have been experienced in the last few years.
As I talked with people and attended the different sessions, I was again made aware that each one of these area agencies was like a small business that had to deal with providing services and contracting with service providers in their area. While this is a challenge, it is also a great strength. I’ve often talked about the challenge the federal government has in passing healthcare legislation that affects the whole nation. I’ve chastised lawmakers on the folly of their “one size fits all” approach. The area agencies understand the people they serve. They live where they do and respond to their local unique needs. I’ve historically been leery of big federal programs, but the way this program continues to be implemented over the years has proven to be efficient.
I’m always focused on the issues that impact the healthcare of older Americans, and there are challenges that this program faces going forward. The USAging national association works hard to lobby for funding and improvements to the OAA and in support of the area agencies. Each of these agencies works with the state and local governments as they access available services and must lobby with local lawmakers on legislation that affect their ability to serve the older adults in their areas. USAging works with each of the agencies on both national and local issues.
It’s my opinion that one of the important people at the national association is Amy Gotwals, Chief, Public Policy and External Affairs at USAging. She is a respected expert on public policy affecting older adults, and I’ve attended many of her sessions and panels at this conference and others where she has been invited to participate. I had the opportunity to sit down with her for a one-on-one interview about the issues that affect older adults. It was a unique opportunity to get to know and understand more of the things that impact the area agencies. We discussed how difficult it has been for the agencies to maintain the level of service with no increase in funding. While there are budget recommendations in the Senate’s renewal that call for around 4% increases, Amy indicated that the increases most likely will be smaller in the end, to ensure the bill passes the House. She also indicated that the reduction in staffing and the added pressure of Medicaid cuts are having an big effect on their programs. We talked about the coming midterm elections, and I asked her how a change in majority parties, with the Democrats having a fair chance of winning a House majority and possible a Senate majority, would affect how USAging would respond. She answered that while any change in majorities may alter the way their priorities are framed or focused, it would not change in any way their basic priorities. It was clear that getting the rules, regulations and legislation passed that would help the area agencies serve the seniors was the important thing, not who held the majorities. It was a joy to talk with Amy, and I left knowing that USAging had a great advocate and expert leading the public policy.
While many of those the area agencies serve may not know where the funding to help them comes from, they certainly know that these agencies help them live independently, safely, and with dignity in their communities, and that’s what’s important.
Best, Thair