The purpose of the Older Americans Act (OAA) programs is to assist elders to live independently lives in their home environment and communities through supportive social services, nutrition services, preventive health services, caregiver support, senior employment, and elder abuse prevention.

To be eligible for OAA programs, individuals must be age 60 or older. Preference is given to elders with the greatest economic or social needs, particularly low-income older individuals, low-income minority elders, individuals with Limited English Proficiency, and individuals residing in rural areas.

OAA provides the following programs and services.

• Supportive Services provide adult day care, caregiver training and support, chore, congregate dining, home-delivered meals, homemaker services, information and referral assistance, medical transportation, nutrition education, personal care, and shopping assistance.
• National Family Caregiver Support Program assists families caring for older members, grandparents or older relatives who are caregivers for children 18 and younger, or caregivers for children of any age who have disabilities. Services for caregivers include information, access to services, counseling, support groups, training, respite care, supplemental services, and legal assistance.
• Nutritional Services Incentive Program supplements funding for food used in meals served under the Older Americans Act.
• Congregate Meal and Nutrition Sites serve nutritionally balanced meals in community settings, provide nutritional education, screen for risks ,and deliver meals to elders who are home-bound.
• Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Programs deliver training, education, and screening opportunities to seniors about health related topics, including chronic disease management.
• Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) provides community service and work-based job training programs to unemployed, low income Floridians age 55 and older.
• Elder Abuse Prevention Program raises awareness of elder abuse through training, education, and prevention activities. The Department of Elder Affairs does not conduct investigations. To report elder abuse, neglect, or exploitation call the Florida Abuse Hotline at 1-800-96-ABUSE (1-800-962-2873) or report online.
• Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program establishes local volunteer advocates for residents of long-term care facilities. Thirteen district offices investigate and resolve complaints, conduct annual assessments of facilities, and serve as an advisory body on issues impacting residents.

For more information on these services, please see the department's Summary of Programs and Services.

In federal Fiscal Year 2021-22, the department provided OAA services to the following numbers of seniors.

• Title III: 23,656 clients received supportive services (e.g., transportation, information and referral, and in-home services); 25,472 clients received congregate meals; 24,751 clients received home-delivered meals; 9,199 clients received disease prevention and health promotion services; and 3,793 clients were served in the caregiver support program.
• Title V: 2,385 seniors received employment assistance services under the Senior Community Service Employment Program.
• Title VII: 2,815 investigations were completed under the Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program.
  

Older Americans Act programs are funded as part of the Home and Community Services budget entity.

Other Reports
Reports, Department of Elder Affairs

Websites of Interest
Florida's Aging and Disability Resource Centers
Meals on Wheels America
Agency for Health Care Administration, Nursing Home Guide
Home and Community Based Services Clearinghouse
Home and Community Based Services Clearinghouse, Older Americans Act Publications
National Council on Aging's Older Americans Act Reauthorization Site
Administration for Community Living

Performance

Performance measures and standards for the department may be found in its Long Range Program Plan.

Sections 20.41, 430.04(1), and 430.101, Florida Statutes

Florida Department of Elder Affairs, Bureau of Community and Support Services, 850-414-2073
Elder Helpline, 1-800-963-5337 or 1-800-955-8771 for TDD or 1-800-955-8770 for voice
Website