CONTENTS Foreword by Representative Thomas J. Downey, Chairman, Subcommittee on Human Toward a National Policy on Aging: Historical Highlights. Hon. Edward R. Roybal, Chairman, Select Committee on Aging, U.S. House of Hon. Matthew J. Rinaldo, Ranking Republican Member, Select Committee on Aging, U.S. House of Representatives... Hon. William J. Hughes, Chairman, Subcommittee on Retirement Income and Employment, Select Committee on Aging, U.S. House of Representatives. Hon. Marilyn Lloyd, Chairman, Subcommittee on Housing and Consumer Interests vii xiii 7 Hon. David Pryor, Chairman, Special Committee on Aging, U.S. Senate. Hon. John Heinz, Ranking Minority Member, Special Committee on Aging, U.S. T. Franklin Williams, M.D., Director, National Institute on Aging. Jane G. Gould, Director, New York State Office for the Aging.. Prema Mathai-Davis, Commissioner, New York City Department for the Aging... Daniel A. Quirk, Executive Director, National Association of State Units on Dr. Daniel Thursz, President, National Council on the Aging, Inc. Michael J. Giuffrida, Administrative Director, National Association of Meal Burton D. Fretz, Executive Director, National Senior Citizens Law Center.. Eugene Glover, President, National Council of Senior Citizens.. 52 54 57 58 59 (XI) CONTENT S--Continued John Brademas, President, New York University.... Robert N. Butler, M.D., Chairman, Department of Geriatrics and Adult Joseph A. Califano, Jr., former Secretary, Health, Education & Welfare. Rose Dobrof, DSW, Brookdale Professor of Gerontology, Director, Brookdale Toshio Tatara, Ph.D., Director, National Aging Resource Center on Elder M. Gene Handelsman, Assistant Director, Volunteer & Field Services Depart- ment, American Association of Retired Persons.. Jack Ossofsky, Retired President, National Council on Aging.. Appendix 1. Statutes Establishing and Amending the Older Americans Act.... Appendix 2. Older Americans Act and Amendments Enacted.. Appendix 3. Secretaries of the Department of Health and Human Services.. Appendix 4. "Older Americans Act Amendments of 1987: P.L. 100-175, A Sum- (XII) TOWARD A NATIONAL POLICY ON AGING: HISTORICAL HIGHLIGHTS 1920: THE CIVIL SERVICE RETIREMENT ACT was enacted to provide a retirement system for many government employees, including Members of the U.S. Congress and those in the uniformed and civil services. 1935: THE SOCIAL SECURITY ACT was passed and signed into law by President Roosevelt "to provide protection as a matter of right for the American worker in retirement." Major provisions included "Old Age Assistance" and "Old Age Survivors Insurance." 1937: THE RAILROAD RETIREMENT ACT was enacted to provide annuities (pensions) for retired railroad employees and their spouses. 1945: The State of Connecticut was among the first to establish a STATE AGENCY ON AGING through its designation of a "State Commission on the Care and Treatment of the Chronically Ill, Aged and Infirm." 1950: The First NATIONAL CONFERENCE ON AGING convened in Washington, D.C. sponsored by the Federal Security Agency. 1953: THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, EDUCATION AND WELFARE was established in April to replace the former Federal Security Agency. 1956: A SPECIAL STAFF ON AGING was assigned coordinative responsibilities for aging within the Office of the Secretary of HEW. 1958: Representative John E. Fogarty introduced bill in Congress calling for a WHITE HOUSE CONFERENCE ON AGING. 1959: THE HOUSING ACT was enacted, authorizing a direct loan program of nonprofit rental projects for the elderly at low interest rates. Provisions also reduced the eligible age for public low-rent housing for low-income older persons to age 62 for women and age 50 for disabled individuals. 1960: SOCIAL SECURITY AMENDMENTS made a number of changes in the law, including a) eliminating "age 50" as a minimum to qualify for disability benefits, and b) liberalizing the retirement test and the requirement for fully insured status. 1961: First WHITE HOUSE CONFERENCE ON AGING convened in Washington, D.C. SOCIAL SECURITY AMENDMENTS lowered retirement age for men from 65 to 62; increased minimum benefits paid; broadened program to include additional categories of retired persons; increased benefits to aged widows; and liberalized the retirement test. 1962: LEGISLATION PROPOSED BY Senator McNamara and Representative Fogarty calling for the establishment of a permanent and independent 3-member COMMISSION ON AGING attached to the Presidency to serve as the focal point within Federal government for developing national policy. More than 160 BILLS INTRODUCED IN CONGRESS related to the aged and aging--EIGHT WERE ENACTED. (XIII) 1965: MEDICARE health insurance program for the elderly was legislated. Financed through the Social Security system, the enactment culminated years of "extensive and comprehensive efforts at the Congressional level." THE OLDER AMERICANS ACT was passed and signed into law by President Johnson on July 14. Major provisions included establishment of ADMINISTRATION ON AGING within DHEW and grants to States for community planning, services and training. The Act also stipulated that STATE AGENCIES ON AGING be established to administer the programs. "Community Service and Continuing Education Programs" were authorized under the HIGHER EDUCATION ACT OF 1965. Emphasis was directed to solving community problems in urban and suburban areas and to expanding available learning opportunities for adults not adequately served by educational offerings in their communities. SOCIAL SECURITY AMENDMENTS established Title XIX, "Grants to States for Medical Assistance." 1967: AMENDMENTS TO THE OLDER AMERICANS ACT extended its provisions for two years and directed AOA to undertake a study of personnel needs in the aging field. AGE DISCRIMINATION ACT OF 1967 was passed and signed into law by President Johnson. THE ADMINISTRATION ON AGING was removed from the Office of the Secretary of HEW and placed in a newly created SOCIAL AND REHABILITATIVE SERVICE AGENCY (SRS) within the Department. 1969: AMENDMENTS TO THE OLDER AMERICANS ACT extended its provisions for three years and authorized the use of Title III funds to support AREAWIDE MODEL PROJECTS. 1971: Second WHITE HOUSE CONFERENCE ON AGING convened in Washington, D.C. 1972: THE NUTRITION PROGRAM FOR THE ELDERLY ACT was passed and signed into law by President Nixon (redesignated Title VII of the Older Americans Act, as amended in 1973.) 1973: THE OLDER AMERICANS COMPREHENSIVE SERVICE AMENDMENTS established AREA AGENCIES ON AGING under an expanded Title III authority. Amendments also authorized the use of Title III grants for model projects, senior centers and multidisciplinary centers of gerontology, added a new Title IX, "Older Americans Community Service Employment Act", authorized funding for Title VII nutrition projects, and extended the Act's provisions for two years. THE DOMESTIC VOLUNTEER SERVICE ACT was passed and signed into law by President Nixon on October 1. Major provisions included the RSVP and Foster Grandparent programs. Title VI of the Older Americans Act, as a result, was later repealed. (XIV) |