July, 14, 2010 marks the 45th anniversary of the signing of the Older Americans Act which remains one of the most significant pieces of legislation in place for older Americans in all states. Congress passed the Older Americans Act (OAA) in 1965 in response to concerns of citizens and policymakers related to a lack of community social services for older persons. The original legislation established authority for grants to states for community planning and social services, research and development projects, and personnel training in the field of aging. The law also established the Administration on Aging (AoA) to administer the newly created grant programs and to serve as the Federal focal point on matters concerning older persons.
The Older Americans Act authorized a wide array of service programs through a national network of 56 State agencies on aging, 629 area agencies on aging, nearly 20,000 service providers, 244 Tribal organizations, and 2 Native Hawaiian organizations representing 400 Tribes. The OAA also includes community service employment for low-income older Americans; training, research, and demonstration activities in the field of aging; and vulnerable elder rights protection activities. These programs are important to the more than 3.4 million individuals aged 60 and older in New York State. Like the rest of the country, and the world, New York‘s baby boomer cohort is coming of age, and the foundational programs and services that the Older Americans Act has made possible will be of even more importance as we move forward in time.
In New York State, the first Office for the Aging was created by Executive Order of the Governor in 1961. The Office was one of the first State Units on Aging in the Nation. In 1965, with the passage of the Older Americans Act, the Office was made an independent agency in the Executive Department and became the central state agency in New York designated to plan and coordinate programs and services for the aging at all levels in both the public and private sectors. Throughout its 45year history, the Office for the Aging has been in the forefront of special initiatives for older people, and many of the concepts and programs which began in New York have been adopted nationally.
New York State offers a wide array of services for our growing population of elders. The New York State Office for the Aging, in cooperation with county and borough programs for aging in New York City, helps to guide elders, their families and caregivers to opportunities that enhance their lives. Our office is also charged with advocating for our elders at every level of government and throughout our local communities. Today, as was the case forty-five years ago, we remain committed to conveying their views, protecting their rights and ensuring that their needs are addressed.
The history of Older Americans Act
