Policy Analysis of the Older Americans Act of 1965

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Eligibility Criteria and Beneficiaries
The OAA is generally for older adults aged sixty and above. The persons need to be in real need of the services. The person may be as low as age fifty five; Title V provides support for part-time employment for individuals aged fifty five and over that earn a low income and have poor employment possibilities. Individuals included in the Act are American Indians, Native Alaskan Americans, Native Hawaiian Americans, tribal organizations, and persons with disabilities. The Act focuses on providing services to the individuals of this country who are in the greatest economic need.
State and local government agencies, as well as nonprofit organizations and institutions are eligible according to the Act (Department, 2006) as long as they provide funds for older Americans. The Act also states that a tribal organization for an Indian tribe is eligible only if the organization represents fifty individuals aged sixty and above, and if it demonstrates an ability to deliver supportive services—which includes nutritional services. Similarly, an organization representing Native Hawaiians must also serve fifty individuals aged sixty or higher, and must demonstrate their ability to deliver supportive services, emphasizing nutritional services.
(Kirst-Ashman, 2013) Services vary dramatically from one location to another, because the focus is on coordination of services, not prescriptions about what should be provided.
Administration and Financing
The federal government is responsible for the administration and financing of the Older Americans Act. All programs administered at the federal level are administered by the Administration on Aging (AoA), except for the title V community service senior opportunitie...

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