STATEMENT BY JOSEFINA G. CARBONELL

I commend the Congress for the successful passage of the 16th reauthorization of the Older Americans Act (OAA). I thank them for their leadership and compassion in understanding the vital role this Act plays in redirecting our long-term care system to help older Americans remain active and engaged in their communities – the overwhelming preference of the American people.

The OAA embodies our nation’s compassion toward ensuring the dignity and independence of our older citizens by promoting older Americans’ full participation in society, and supporting their overwhelming desire to remain living in their own homes and communities for as long as possible. Other provisions include:

Other provisions include:

• Enhanced Federal, State, and Local coordination of long-term care services provided in home and community-based settings
• Support for State and community planning to address the long-term care needs of the baby boom generation
• Greater focus on prevention and treatment of mental disorders
• Outreach and service to a broader universe of family caregivers under the National Family Caregiver Support Program
• Increased focus on civic engagement and volunteerism
• Enhanced coordination of programs that protect elders from abuse, neglect and exploitation

The new legislation advances the President’s New Freedom initiative and affirms the Administration’s commitment to health promotion and disease prevention, value and ownership. The OAA embeds the principles of the Administration’s Choices for Independence initiative. The legislation modernizes community-based long-term care systems to empower consumers to manage their own care and make choices that will allow them to avoid institutional care and live healthy lives in the community.

I thank the House Education and the Workforce Committee, especially Chairman McKeon, Subcommittee Chairman Tiberi and Ranking Members Miller and Hinojosa; as well as the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee Chairman Enzi, Subcommittee Chairman DeWine as well as Ranking Members Kennedy and Mikulski for their leadership as this legislation moved through the Congress with broad bipartisan support.