Arlington, VA – February 15, 2024 – Meals on Wheels America President and CEO Ellie Hollander today issued the following statement regarding the Administration for Community Living (ACL)
Final Rule to Update Older Americans Act (OAA) Regulations:
After a nearly two-year review process, ACL issued a final rule to update OAA regulations – the written policies and procedures that enable accurate, consistent and effective interpretation of the law for the entire aging services network. The OAA is the primary federal legislation supporting community-based nutrition and social services – like Meals on Wheels – for adults 60 and older, their families and caregivers.
Throughout the process, Meals on Wheels America provided valuable insights and feedback to ACL on the existing regulations – last updated in 1988 – informed through the active participation of our nationwide senior nutrition provider network and their 50+ years of frontline experience.
We are encouraged to see much of our feedback and recommendations were incorporated. However, these long overdue regulatory updates can only achieve so much without improvements to the Act itself. As such, we look forward to continuing to work with ACL and Congress during the upcoming OAA reauthorization process to build upon this important milestone and grow support for local senior nutrition programs and the older adults they serve.
We commend ACL for its leadership and commitment to our nation’s older adults and celebrate the historic impact this regulatory update will have on the aging services network.
Read more background and other resources on ACL’s final rule here.
Read Meals on Wheels America’s comments in response to ACL’s Request for Information and Notice of Proposed Rulemaking.
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ABOUT MEALS ON WHEELS AMERICA
Meals on Wheels America is the leadership organization supporting the more than 5,000 community-based programs across the country that are dedicated to addressing senior hunger and isolation. Powered by a trusted volunteer workforce, this network delivers a comprehensive solution that begins with a meal and is proven to enable independence and well-being through the additional benefits of tailored nutrition, social connection, safety and much more. By providing funding, programming, education, research and advocacy, Meals on Wheels America empowers its local member programs to strengthen their communities, one senior at a time. For more information, or to find a Meals on Wheels provider near you, visit www.mealsonwheelsamerica.org.