In 1965, Congress enacted the Older Americans Act, which established the U.S. Administration on Aging and state agencies on aging (e.g., the West Virginia Bureau of Senior Services) to address the social services needs of older people. The Act authorizes seven titles that are administered by the Administration on Aging, except for the Title V Community Services Employment Program, which is administered by the U.S. Department of Labor. Over two-thirds of Older Americans Act funding supports state and community grants for multiple social service programs.
The Older Americans Act includes many programs for individuals over 60 years of age. One of the Act’s primary objectives is to secure the best possible physical and mental health that science can make available. Two primary programs that help meet this objective are nutrition—meals that meet 1/3 RDA are provided both in the home and at the senior centers—and transportation—to physicians’ appointments, pharmacies, grocery stores and the senior center.
LIFE (Legislative Initiative for the Elderly) is a state-funded program and part of the senior center array of services. Services vary by county but are modeled after those provided by the Older Americans Act. For more information about Older Americans Act or LIFE programs, please contact us or your county aging provider (senior center).
Updated 7/12/21