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Today, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is
announcing $250 million in grants from the Administration for Community
Living (ACL) to help communities provide meals for older adults.
The Families First Coronavirus Response Act, signed into law
by President Trump on March 18, 2020, provided the additional funding for
the nutrition services programs authorized by the Older Americans Act (OAA)
of 1965. These programs provide meals to more than 2.4 million older adults
each year, both through home delivery and in places like community centers.
The need for these services, particularly home-delivered and packaged
meals, has increased as community measures to slow transmission of COVID-19
have closed meal sites and have left many family caregivers unable to
assist their older loved ones.
“The Trump Administration recognizes that the measures needed
to protect older Americans from the serious threat of COVID-19 have been
disruptive for many of our most vulnerable,” said HHS Secretary Alex Azar.
“Getting more funds to community organizations that deliver meals to older
adults, such as Meals on Wheels, is another example of the Trump
Administration’s whole-of-government, whole-of-America approach to
combating the COVID-19 pandemic.”
In addition to meals, Older Americans Act programs provide a
wide range of services, such as help with bathing and dressing, rides to
doctors’ offices, education on managing chronic illnesses, support for
family caregivers, and much more.
Provided by a network of community-based organizations, such as Area
Agencies on Aging, local community and senior centers, faith-based
organizations, and other non-profit service providers, these programs work
together to help millions of older adults each year stay healthy and
continue living independently.
“The network of community-based organizations that provide
Older Americans Act services has an exceptional capacity to coordinate
services, bring together service providers, and adapt to overcome
challenges, and they are employing innovative solutions to continue meal
services,” said ACL Administrator Lance Robertson. “This additional funding
will help communities across the country provide older adults, especially
those at greatest risk, with the healthy meals they need.”
Funding has been provided to states, territories, and tribes
for subsequent allocation to local meal providers. Grant amounts
are determined based on the population-based formulas defined in the Older
Americans Act.
Older adults who need assistance can contact the Eldercare
Locator to find services available in their community. The Eldercare
Locator can be reached at 1-800-677-1116 or eldercare.acl.gov.
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