TITLE III, OLDER AMERICANS ACT: Carryover Funds Are Not Creating a Serious Meal Service Problem Nationwide

摘要

The Older Americans Act (42 U.S.C. 3001-3058ee) is intended to assist elderly Americans (aged 60 and over) by removing barriers to independent living through a variety of long-term care services in communities across the nation. Administered by the Administration on Aging (AoA) in the Department of Health and Human Services, Title III of the Act authorizes nutrition services such as congregate (group) and in-home meals, as well as support services, including transportation and housekeeping. Under Title III, program funds are to be distributed as grants to states on the basis of their proportional share of the total elderly population in the United States.1 In fiscal year 1999, the 50 states; the District of Columbia; and the U.S. territories, including American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas, Guam, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands (hereafter referred to as the 56 states), received about $785 million to operate Title III services. The bulk of these funds $486 million was directed to nutrition services. Most states generally pass on their Title III funds to more than 600 area agencies nationwide, such as county human services organizations, that oversee the nutrition and support services provided by these funds at the local level. In turn, most of these area agencies award subgrants or contracts to about 4,000 local service providers, which deliver these services in a variety of settings, including senior centers, schools, and homes. Some states award Title III funds directly to the local service providers.