Search

Accomplishments of the Older Americans Act of 1965 (OAA) include (1) identification of needs of older people; (2) development of strategies to meet those needs; (3) provision of help to older Americans; (4) development of an infrastructure to help older people; and (5) recruitment of professionals to the field of aging. (JOW)

In this article, the authors sketch the outlines of a new institutional arrangement intended to promote extensive engagement of older Americans in contributions to their communities throughout the nation. The American Community Environmental Services would deploy large cadres of older people and some younger people, both as employees and as volunteers, in careers devoted to achieving short-and long-term environmental goals. As the authors describe, their plan for adequate attention to the environment, especially climate change, requires the creation of an institution that goes beyond volunteering and rather is based on paid-career environmental jobs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article provides information on the political engagement of the older people in the U.S. According to the author, voting is the type of political activity among older people that is most amenable wherein they have a high rate of participation during election. Other forms of political participation include contributing to political campaigns, contacting public officials, membership in political active organizations, and representing the elderly population. As noted by political scientist Andrea Campbell, older people are indeed senior citizens, fully incorporated into social and political citizenship.

The article focuses on the impact of ageism in the in the public policies in the United States. It comments that such impacts have both positive and negative effects on older people. It views that such policies have facilitated the construction of an old-age welfare state. On the other hand, it has provided the foundation for negative stereotypes of older people and their political behavior. It analyzes the effect of the enactment of Social Security policies in 1935 and the public policy issues in the late 1970s concerning a compassionate ageism for older people. It also highlights that the lowest levels of economic status, health and functional capacities that could be found among older people became familiar as common denominators in public discourse. More over elderly people tended to be seen as poor, frail and dependent as objects of discrimination and all deserving group. The article points out that many of the old-age policies enacted during 1970s has made distinctions among older people in determining their eligibility for assistance but many people treat all the older people as of the same condition.

The passage of Social Security in 1935 politically legitimated the status of older people as a major and "deserving" governmental concern. It laid the foundation for piecemeal construction throughout the next four decades of the U.S. old-age welfare state on which the government now spend about one-third of the federal budget. Especially during the 1960s and 1970s, just about every issue or problem that advocates for the aging identified as relevant to just some of the elderly population became a governmental responsibility. During the several decades since then, the country has been returning to its ideological roots as a nation, emphasizing individualism, personal responsibility and reliance on market. This trend was aptly expressed in the title of the welfare reform legislation enacted during U.S. President Bill Clinton's first term, "The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996.

Discusses old-age interest groups' challenge of how to protect the Medicare and Medicaid programs from substantial reductions in funding and significant structural changes. Policies and interest groups in the earlier eras; New political context for policies on aging; Possible consequences of Medicare and Medicaid cuts; Special case of the American Association of Retired Persons.

Examines the implications of population aging to national healthcare expenditures based on data gathered worldwide. Comparison of population aging and total spending on health care for a dozen countries; Structural features of healthcare systems as a determinant of healthcare expenditures for the aged.

Discusses the history and achievements of the Older Americans Act which was passed in 1965. Fundamental features during the 1960s and 1970s; Broad focus on all persons aged 60 and older; Gap between the social goals proclaimed in the legislation and the meager funds and limited authority; Fragmentation of implementing authority among government entities; Reauthorization of the act in 1991.