The 1990 census counted almost 166,000 American Indians and Alaska Natives over the age of 60. Although elders represent only about eight percent of the Native American population, their numbers are increasing rapidly. This increase will be due to both better health and living conditions and an increased life expectancy. Older Native Americans can expect to live well into their eighties and nineties. This welcome trend will continue to place demands on home and community based service delivery systems.

AoA's American Indian, Alaskan Native, and Native Hawaiian Program is responsible for serving as the effective and visible advocate on behalf of older Native Americans, coordinating activities with other Federal departments and agencies, administering grants to Native Americans, and collecting and disseminating information related to the problems of older Native Americans.

Under Title VI of the OAA, AoA annually awards grants to provide supportive and nutrition services for Native American elders living in the Title VI service area. In FY 1995, grants were awarded to 227 American Indian and Alaskan Native tribal organizations and 1 organization serving Native Hawaiian elders.

Nutrition services are a major component of the Title VI program. In 1994, nearly 3 million congregate and home delivered meals were provided to elders participating in Title VI programs. In addition to meals, other nutrition services provided included nutrition education, nutrition screening, and nutrition counseling.

The results of the National Elderly Nutrition Evaluation study conducted in 1995 indicated that both congregate and home-delivered Title VI meals met the nutritional requirements for virtually all nutrients. Most of the elders receiving congregate and home-delivered meals were satisfied with how the meals looked and tasted.

Another major component of the Title VI program is supportive services. Over 3 million supportive services were provided to Native American elders through programs funded by Title VI in 1994. Included in the supportive services were over 850,000 units of transportation, 680,000 units of information and assistance, 60,000 units of chore services, 50,000 units of homemaker services, and 30,000 units of health aid services. Additional supportive services provided included outreach, family support, and legal assistance.

In February, 1994, AoA awarded cooperative agreement grants totaling approximately $500,000 to the University of Colorado at Denver and the University of North Dakota at Grand Forks to establish National Resource Centers for Older Native Americans. The primary focus of both centers is health, community-based long-term care and related issues. The Centers are the focal points for developing and sharing technical information and expertise to Indian Organizations, Title VI grantees, Native American communities, educational institutions and professionals and paraprofessionals in the field.

The purpose of the Federal Interagency Task Force on Older Indians is to facilitate coordination among federally funded programs and improve services to older Indians. During Fiscal Year 1996, this Task Force will be focusing on three areas of concern to older Indians: health; transportation; and data. The Task Force will be making recommendations to further interagency collaboration and enhance services to older Indians, and highlight problems, issues and/or barriers that prevent or diminish collaboration.

May 1996