Today marks 44th anniversary of Older Americans Act

Statement by Assistant Secretary Kathy Greenlee on the 44th Anniversary of the Signing of the Older Americans Act

“On July 14, 1965, President Lyndon Baines Johnson signedthe Older Americans Act into law.  At the ceremony, President Johnsonsaid, “The Older Americans Act clearly affirms our Nation’s sense ofresponsibility toward the well-being of all of our older citizens.  Buteven more, the results of this act will help us to expand ouropportunities for enriching the lives of all of our citizens in thiscountry, now and in the years to come.  This legislation is really theseed-corn that provides an orderly, intelligent, and constructiveprogram to help us meet the new dimensions of responsibilities whichlie ahead in the remaining years of this century.  Under this programevery State and every community can now move toward a coordinatedprogram of services and opportunities for our older citizens.”  Hecontinued, “The Older Americans Act will make it possible for us tomove faster in these places where we have already started. It willpermit us to travel new ways where old ways have not worked before. Itwill permit new beginnings where none have been made before.” President Johnson went on to say, “The grants under this law will bemodest in dollars, but will have far reaching results.  Its resultswill come from where they are needed – always at the hometown level.”

Now, 44 years later, those inspiring words continue to guide our workon behalf of millions of older Americans and their families. The OlderAmericans Act programs and services, which exist in nearly everycommunity in America, have made a difference in the lives of our agingpopulation —  providing so many older Americans with the opportunityto live at home for as long as possible with their families andfriends. The Act has created an extraordinary network of dedicatedindividuals, advocates, volunteers, community-based organizations andFederal, state, tribal and local partners whose work each and every daymakes life better for older Americans and their caregivers.

As we work together to meet the pressing demographic, social, andeconomic challenges before us, let us reflect on the tremendousprogress that has been made over the past four decades to support olderAmericans.  We have come a long way, but our work is not yet complete. In the days and weeks to come, I look forward to working with all ofyou to continue to honor our older Americans and to meet the needs ofAmerica’s future generations.  “