The year 1965 is noteworthy from a number of perspectives, especially with regard to federal policy making for the elderly. With passage in 1965 of the highly publicized Medicare Bill (Public Law 89-97) and the Older Americans Act (Public Law 89-73), and the subsequent establishment of the Administration on Aging within the executive branch, came a period of unparalleled activism for the elderly.

Congressionally initiated and constituency based, the Older Americans Act embraced overwhelmingly the ideologies, goals and ambitions of older people, politicians, government officials and the institutions of society. Representative John Fogarty of Rhode Island and Senator Patrick McNamara of Michigan were the principal sponsors of the legislation. After virtually no debate, the bill was passed by Congress and signed into law by President Johnson on July 14, 1965.

A Summary

The Older Americans act of 1965 was directed to giving older Americans increased opportunities for participating in the benefits of American Society. A ten-point set of broad policy objectives aimed at improving the lives of older people in areas of income, health, housing, employment, retirement, and community services was established by Congress with this Act.

The Act embraced the following objectives for assuring older Americans:

• An adequate income in retirement in accordance with the American
• standard of living
• The best possible physical and mental health which science can make
• available and without regard to economic status
• Suitable housing, independently selected, designed and located with
• reference to special needs and available at costs which older citizens
• can afford
• Full restorative services for those who require institutionalized care
• Opportunity for employment with no discriminatory personnel
• practices because of age
• Retirement in health, honor, and dignity after years of contribution
• to the economy
• Pursuit of meaningful activity within the widest range of civic,
• cultural and recreational opportunities
• Efficient community services which provide social assistance in a
• coordinated manner and which are readily available when needed
• Immediate benefit from proven research knowledge which can
• sustain and improve health and happiness; and
• Freedom, independence and the free exercise of individual initiative
• in planning and managing their own lives.

Title I of the Older Americans Act of 1965 expressed this nation's commitment to and goals for assuring the well-being of the elderly.

Title II established the Administration on Aging as an agency within the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare under the direction of a Commissioner to be appointed by the President by and with the advice and consent of the Senate.

Title III of the Act provided a program of grants for community planning, services, and training. The largest program of the Act, formula grants were allotted to states based on a three-year cost-sharing rule for developing and establishing social services for the elderly. To qualify, states were required to designate a single State Unit on Aging (SUA) to put forth a plan for developing and implementing a statewide aging program.

Title IV is a program of grants for research and development put forth to address areas of national concern with respect to aged and aging.

Title V provided a program of grants for training and developing curricula to aid persons already employed or preparing for employment in the field of aging. As with Title IV, Congress specified that grants be made to the public and private non-profit organizations and institutions at the discretion of the Secretary.

Title VI was the general title, as it contained sections on advisory committees, administration, and authorization of appropriations for Title IV and Title V.

In sum, the Older Americans Act, as first enacted in 1965, provided the legislative authority for the creation of the Federal Administration on Aging under Title II. It was established among other reasons to administer a program of formula grants to states under Title III to support community planning on aging. Contained within each major section, or title, were specific provisions for services and programs intended by Congress to assist the lives of America's elderly.

Area Agencies on Aging

Area Agencies on Aging were established by the 1973 amendments to the Older Americans Act. They are public or non-profit organizations or units of local government designated by the state and responsible for a specific geographic area. Area Agencies on Aging advocate on behalf of older people within their planning and service area and develop community based plans for services to meet their needs. Area Agencies on Aging also administer federal, state, local and private funds through contracts with local service providers. Each Area Agency on Aging is required to have a citizens' advisory council.

In Wisconsin, there are six Area Agencies on Aging (AAA), each designated to oversee a specified service area. The Area Agencies on Aging monitor counties and tribes in their respective district with regard to how they use Older Americans Act dollars, advocate on behalf of older people, and plan and coordinate services to help people age 60 and over to maintain their health, independence and community involvement. Four of the six AAA's in Wisconsin are non-profit agencies; while the other two, Dane and Milwaukee are part of County Government.