Protect the Older Americans Act with a Week of Action!
May 18, 2015 04:38 PM
SPREAD THE WORD: Fund, Reauthorize and Protect the Older Americans Act with a Week of Action!
The Older Americans Act (OAA) is celebrating 50 years of providing services to help millions of seniors every year age with health, independence and dignity in their homes and communities! To highlight this important year, the Administration for Community Living has designated the theme, Get Into the Act, for this May’s Older Americans Month.
The population of older adults needing OAA services is growing faster than at any time in the country’s history as 10,000 baby boomers turn 65 each day. By 2030, 1 in 5 Americans will be 65 or older. However, just when the need is highest, funding for these critical services is in jeopardy every year at the federal, state and local levels.
We must tell Congress that the Older Americans Act is celebrating 50 years of successfully and cost-effectively serving seniors and demand that they fund, reauthorize and protect OAA now! Congress must ensure that programs older Americans depend on to stay healthy and independent are there for the next 50 years!
Join us May 18-22 for a Week of Action for OAA to learn more about the Older Americans Act and the services it supports and to contact your Members of Congress about why it is critical to fund, reauthorize and protect OAA. The schedule for the Week of Action and more information about getting involved is below.
TUESDAY, May 19:
PARTICIPATE in the #WeAreOAA Twitter Chat! On Tuesday, May 19th at 1:00 pm ET, discuss Older Americans Act programs and the need for reauthorization. Led by organizations from the Eldercare Workforce Alliance (@ElderCareTeam), the Leadership Council of Aging Organizations (@LCAgingOrgs) and featuring the Administration on Community Living (@ACLgov), this Twitter Chat will be an online forum for aging advocates, older Americans, and family caregivers. To participate in the chat, visit https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeAreOAA or http://twubs.com/WeAreOAA. Also, check out this #WeAreOAA Twitter Chat guide for more information.
WEDNESDAY, May 20:
EMAIL Congress! Write to your members of Congress to tell them why your community needs them to fund, reauthorize and protect the OAA: http://bit.ly/1EifaCg.
THURSDAY, May 21:
CALL Congress! Urge your Senators and Representative to fund, renew, and protect the Older Americans Act by restoring appropriations to at least the fiscal year 2010 levels, passing a bipartisan reauthorization, and removing the continued threat of across-the-board sequestration cuts. Get more tips and the call-in number sponsored by LeadingAge here: http://www.n4a.org/Files/OAA call-in script.pdf.
FRIDAY, May 22:
TELL your OAA story! The Administration for Community Living wants to hear from YOU about what OAA means to you and your loved ones. Share stories, photos and videos with them to build awareness about the importance of OAA in communities everywhere!
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