ACL

The Administration for Community Living (ACL), in collaboration with the disability and aging networks it funds, is committed to protecting the voting rights of older adults and people with disabilities. Through ACL's programs, a variety of resources are available, including information, education, supportive services, and legal assistance, all aimed at improving voting process accessibility in partnership with states and communities. ACL has released a dedicated webpage to serve as a resource "hub" to make it easier for people with disabilities and older adults to find the voting resources they need.

The Profile of Older Americans is an annual summary of the statistics from the U.S. Census Bureau, the National Center for Health Statistics, and the Bureau of Labor Statistics related to older adults in the United States. The Profile illustrates the shifting demographics of Americans age 65 and older and includes information on population growth, marital status, living arrangements, income, employment, and health. This year's report includes a special section on family caregivers.

ACL released its first comprehensive report on the accomplishments of Older Americans Act (OAA) Title III, VI, and VII programs. Enacted in 1965, the OAA created the foundation for a comprehensive system of services and supports that enables millions of older adults in this country to continue to live independently as they age. Today, programs funded by the OAA provide essential services to older adults, targeting those with the greatest economic or social need, particularly low-income and minority persons, older individuals with limited English proficiency, and older persons living in rural areas. The programs play a vital role in helping to maintain the health and well-being of millions of older adults and their caregivers.

ACL is announcing a new grant award to develop a NTAC. The grant of $485,000 over a one-year period has been awarded to the Community Transportation Association of America (CTAA), which will be partnering with the UMass Boston Institute for Community Inclusion, USAging, and DJB Consulting. NTAC also will work closely with people who need or use transportation services, the transportation sector, and an array of national, state and local organizations throughout the country. This award seeks to expand access to transportation for people with disabilities and older adults by increasing awareness and adoption of transportation accessibility strategies, inclusive planning, and mobility on demand transportation systems.

The 2022 National Strategy to Support Family Caregivers is now available for public comment for 60 days. Comments will be used to inform the ongoing work of two Congressionally mandated caregiving advisory councils, and inform future updates to the strategy. The strategy is intended to serve as a national roadmap for better recognizing and supporting family and kinship caregivers of all ages, backgrounds, and caregiving situations. It includes nearly 350 actions the federal government will take to support family caregivers in the coming years and more than 150 actions that can be adopted at other levels of government and across the private sector to build a system to support family caregivers.

Each September ACL celebrates the nation’s senior centers. The 2022 National Senior Center Month theme, is Strengthening Community Connections, and highlights the valuable role senior centers play in the community through connecting older adults with critical programs and services. In this blog post, ACL recognizes senior centers as partners in supporting the health and independence of older adults.

The Housing and Services Resource Center (HSRC) has released a new video about DIAL-- the Disability Information Access Line. The Disability Information and Access Line (DIAL) can help people with disabilities to find vaccine locations, make appointments and arrange for transportation. Trained staff at DIAL can also help people with disabilities track down community supports to help with independent living, such as services that help with health care benefits, financial assistance, housing, food and more. This informational video gives an overview of DIAL for professionals in the housing, health, and other sectors, especially ones working with people with disabilities.

Are you looking for ways to partner with other organizations to promote social connectedness through shared programming with young and older persons? Submit your application to join other service providers as they share and gain wisdom on how intergenerational programming can support social connectedness. USAging is hosting this no-cost, four-month Community of Practice, on Zoom, from August to November 2022. The goal of the Intergenerational Community of Practice is to facilitate the development and enhancement of intergenerational programming aimed at addressing social isolation and loneliness .

Technology Affinity Group

NADRC's "Dementia Training Resources for Professionals and Volunteers" provides links to training and educational materials for professionals and volunteers working with people living with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD). The resources are intended to increase the dementia-capability of organizations, professionals, and volunteers by providing information on how to recognize, understand, and meet the unique needs of people living with ADRD and their caregivers.