Hudson
(1999) claims that the U.S. social welfare
policy seeks to be "a society for all ages" (p 155). The Older Americans Act is one of a number of programs to assist the
older adult (age 60 plus) to have a quality of life along with the increased quantity of life.
Although the Act is only benefiting a very small percentage of those over age 60, it is quite efficient in the use
of the funding it receives. The states have made the programs more like means
tested programs since the universality of the federal approach has not been supported by federal funds. However, no older
adult is turned away from services and meals at the Senior Citizen Centers although requests for donations have increased.
Most AAAs now have waiting lists for many of the services that they are federally mandated to provide, even though they purposely
do not advertise the programs. Many of the programs, including Meals on Wheels and Home Services allow the elderly to stay
in their own homes at a fraction of the cost of nursing home care. This has decreased the need for Medicaid dollars for nursing
care and has helped the adult caregivers to keep their loved ones in their homes (Executive Summary, n.d.).
More Medicaid dollars could be saved if the OAA was funded more adequately. However,
with the emphasis on tax cuts at this time, it is doubtful that the OAA will be funded at higher levels. This short sightedness
will cause long term cost increases.