Press Release - Senator Clinton Applauds Enactment of Older Americans Act Legislation

Press Release - Senator Clinton Applauds Enactment of Older Americans Act Legislation

Clinton Mental Health and NORC Provisions Included in Bill Now Signed Into Law

Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton applauded enactment of S. 3570, the Older Americans Act Amendments of 2006, to reauthorize the Older Americans Act. The bill, now signed into law by the President, includes provisions Senator Clinton authored and successfully worked to include in the final legislation. Senator Clinton's provisions will assist seniors with their mental healthcare needs and bring increased emphasis to home and community based delivery of critical services through an innovative concept pioneered in New York called Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities or NORCs.

"In less than ten years, the first wave of baby boomers will turn 65. We must consider how we will meet the increasing needs of this elder boom and the growing demands placed on our local, state, and federal health and social service systems in the years ahead," Senator Clinton said. "To ensure that we are prepared we must address the long-term care crisis in our country resulting from the growing longevity of Americans. Enactment of this bill is an important step in the right direction."

As the number of individuals in need of long-term care services rises, issues such as financing, quality of care, family involvement, quality of life, end-of-life care, and overall service delivery are growing in importance and impact. And although a Clinton provision included in the Deficit Reduction Act allows Medicaid to provide some home and community-based services and supports without federal permission, the program still lags behind, even when many seniors would be able to—and most times would prefer to—stay in their own homes. According to the AARP, more than 90 percent of older adults prefer to remain in their current residence as long as possible.

"As we anticipate an increase in demand for long-term care services from the baby boom generation, Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities or NORCs provide a critical and commonsense approach that recognizes the importance of community for positive and healthy aging, and of partnerships between the public and private sectors for offering a range of services—from social and health programs to educational, recreational and volunteer opportunities—that are diverse, flexible, and designed to engage as many community residents as possible," Senator Clinton said.

Specifically, the Older Americans Act reauthorization legislation that was signed into law includes Senator Clinton's proposal to establish a national grant program to support Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities (NORCs) and make a concept pioneered in New York a permanent part of the national strategy for helping older adults age with dignity. Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities (NORCs) are defined geographic areas not originally built for seniors but that over time become home to a large concentration of older people, such as a neighborhood or apartment complex. As incorporated into the Older Americans Act, Senator Clinton's proposal would provide state grants for the development of model aging in place projects for older individuals, with a preference given to NORC programs.

According to the AARP, as many as 25 to 36 percent of seniors live in NORCs. There are over 40 officially recognized NORCs operating across New York State, including programs in Albany, Bronx, Queens, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Plainview, Rochester, Syosset and Troy.

Originally enacted in 1965, the Older Americans Act is the major vehicle for the delivery of social and nutrition services to seniors. New York receives the third largest allocation of Older Americans Act funds, just behind California and Florida.

http://clinton.senate.gov/news/statements/details.cfm?id=264843&&