Issue: Since passage of the Older Americans Act (OAA) in 1965, the Administration on Aging (AoA) has strived to help elderly Americans maintain their independence and remain living in their communities. Through its Aging Services Network, AoA provides services to help address the effects of declining physical health and functioning that frail adults experience. Funded under Title III of the OAA, services such as homemaker support, home-delivered meals, transportation services, and case management are available to those age 60 and older, with delivery targeted to the most vulnerable elderly.
An issue brief from Mathematica Policy Research, the first in a series, presents findings from AoA’s National Survey of OAA Program Participants and assesses whether Title III services are reaching adults at higher risk of nursing home entry.
Findings: The study found that, on the basis of common predictors of nursing home entry, Title III participants are at higher risk of entering a nursing home than others in their age group nationally. Because of the survey design, definitive evidence that Title III programs help keep those receiving services from ultimately entering nursing homes is not available, but the study found that the majority of participants believe the services help them remain in their homes.
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