COMMUNITY INNOVATIONS FOR AGING IN PLACE PROGRAM

Leading up to the reauthorization of the Older Americans Act in 2006, the federal NORC demonstration projects were considered during three hearings held by the Senate Subcommittee on Retirement and Aging.  On May 15, 2005, then-Assistant Secretary of Health and Human Services for Aging, Josefina Carbonell, testified that the NORC Supportive Services Program model provides a “perfect” example of improved coordination of care and support that comes to bear on the quality of life of older Americans.  

In a follow up hearing involving Aging Network stakeholders, held on February 14, 2006, Jo Reed, AARP’s National Advocacy Coordinator for Federal Livable Communities and Consumer Issues, testified that AARP has taken great interest in Congress’ NORC demonstrations, as there is an evolving awareness in the Aging Network that NORCs exist and present opportunities to achieve economies of scale by bringing services to where people live and want to remain.  

A third hearing held on May 16, 2006, focused on the merits of establishing a new program within the Older Americans Act dedicated to promoting NORC-SSPs and to spurring development of similar innovative aging in place models.  Witnesses from four of the NORC demonstration projects testified.  During this hearing, then-Chairman Mike DeWine (R-OH) stated that we know that our current infrastructure will not be able to handle the magnitude of the aging baby boomer population and that is why we need to look to new models, such as NORC-SSPs, which will allow older persons to thrive while remaining in their own homes.  Similarly, then-Ranking Democrat (now the Chairman) Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) stated during the hearing that as our nation anticipates the retirement of 78 million baby boomers, we must look at model programs that help keep seniors at home and independent, and that this is why she is a champion of NORC-SSPs. 

These hearings served as a catalyst for the establishment of the Community Innovations for Aging in Place program within the Older Americans Act (OAA) Amendments of 2006, with the critical support of Senator Mikulski, then-Senator DeWine and Representatives George Miller (D-CA) and Howard McKeon (R-CA).  These Members of Congress were the central negotiators of the reauthorization legislation.  Then-Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) and Representatives Rush Holt (D-NJ) and Pat Tiberi (R-OH) also played key supporting roles in securing the new provision within the amendments package. 

According to a Congressional Research Service report on the OAA Amendments of 2006, Congress created this Community Innovations for Aging in Place program in recognition that many communities around the country are experimenting with ways to assist older people who have aged in place and now need a variety of supportive services to assist them to continue to do so.  The new program, according to the report, provides the Assistant Secretary on Aging with added authority to award Title IV grants to promote model aging in place projects, including NORC-SSPs, with the intent of building supportive communities to help sustain the independence and quality of life of older adult residents. 

With particular leadership from Senators Mikulski and Norm Coleman (R-MN) and Representatives Henry Waxman (D-CA) and Rush Holt, Congress allocated $5 million to commence the Community Innovations for Aging in Place program in the fiscal year 2009 Omnibus Appropriations Bill (H.R. 1105/Public Law No: 111-8). 

In July 2009, the Administration on announced the first year’s grant opportunity.  AoA received more than 400 inquiries from interested parties throughout the Nation’s Aging Services Network, and considered more than 200 grant applications made.  The level of interest and response made this grant opportunity the most popular in the history of AoA. On September 30, 2009, AoA announced the grant awards to establish 14 demonstration grants and a technical assistance center.  The results can be viewed at: http://www.aoa.gov/AoARoot/AoA_Programs/HCLTC/CIAIP_web_page.pdf.

CONCLUSION

In enacting Community Innovations for Aging in Place, Congress took a ground breaking step towards building supportive communities for the vast majority of older Americans who are and will be aging in place for decades to come.  As a matter of public health policy and fiscal responsibility, the program invests in the development of innovative models of service, such as NORC-SSPs, to help older adults maintain their independence, health, and quality of life, while maximizing efficiencies in the delivery of supportive services and shifting federal resources to the community level.

Now funded, the Administration on Aging has embraced the program.  In her message commemorating National Aging in Place Week (October 12 -18, 2009), the Assistant Secretary for Aging, Kathy Greenlee, stated that helping older individuals age in place – at home - is one of her highest priorities. In support of this commitment, she highlighted the new Community Innovations for Aging in Place initiative.   

Congress secured second-year funding of $5 million for the program in FY2010, which allowed for the continuation of the 14 original grants and the technical assistant center.  Congress is now considering third-year funding (FY2011) for the program.  Efforts by program champions in the House and Senate are seeking an increased allocation of $10 million to $15 million, respectively, in order to expand the initiative to additional meritorious grantees. Advocates, led by JFNA, are working in support of securing the highest possible allocation for the program in the final version of the Labor-Health and Human Services Appropriations bill to be enacted this fall.

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