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March 26, 2020
Congress passes third COVID-19 response bill
After Congress passed an $8.3 billion bill on March 5 that included $250 million for senior nutrition and an increase in federal Medicaid spending, last night the Senate unanimously passed a $2.2 trillion bill featuring important measures we believe will start to address some—but certainly not all—the issues facing older adults in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak. We are pleased to see the bill include:
- additional funding for Older Americans Act programs (OAA), including $480 million for nutrition, $200 million for supportive services, and $100 million for caregiver support;
- flexibility for nutrition spending and SCSEP administration; and
- an extension to November 30 for programs set to expire on May 22, such as MIPPA low-income outreach and enrollment, Medicaid HCBS Money Follows the Person Program, and spousal impoverishment protection.
Everything we are hearing from community-based organizations tells us these measures are a good start but will not be enough to meet the rapidly growing demand for the services older adults urgently need. With talks already underway about a fourth round of COVID-19 relief legislation, we will continue advocating for resources that will protect the health and economic security of older adults. Sign up for our Advocacy Alert emails so you can advocate, too.
Sign up for Advocacy Alerts | Read about the bill's health and economic provisions | Read about the bill's emergency funding provisions
How aging services professionals are adapting to the COVID-19 outbreak
The COVID-19 outbreak is affecting different states in different ways. Judith Bendersky, the Field Supervisor at the Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner, answered questions about what she and her staff have experienced over the past two months serving some of the first communities to struggle with COVID-19 infections.
Read more
Encouraging older adults to stay active during the COVID-19 pandemic
Your organization may not be able to offer group exercise classes during the COVID-19 outbreak, but it is important to encourage older adults to stay active and maintain gains in strength, balance, and flexibility that reduce fall risk, strengthen the immune system, and improve quality of life. Use these tips to help older adults feel confident and stay healthy.
Get the tips | Find more COVID-19 resources for professionals
Seniors get free Lyft during COVID-19
We're partnering with Lyft to meet the critical transportation needs of caregivers who are supporting homebound older adults during the COVID-19 outbreak. We’re piloting a free ride project with senior centers in three cities.
Get details
Coming up
- Tele-Town Hall on Caring for Older Adults During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Join experts for a nationwide tele-town hall open to anyone who wants to learn about the needs of older adults and caregivers as COVID-19 changes all our lives. Experts will share their experiences and recommendations, and listeners will be able to answer polls about their experiences during the pandemic. March 27 @ 2 p.m. ET
In case you missed it...
- COVID-19 resource hub now live on ncoa.org: We are gathering resources for older adults and professionals who serve them, aimed at providing reliable information and best practices for staying healthy, financially stable, and effective during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- NCOA applauds Older Americans Act reauthorization: With strong bipartisan support, Congress passed a bill reauthorizing the Older Americans Act (OAA), modernizing the legislation to address the shifting needs of millions of older adults, including the recent coronavirus outbreak. The President has signed the bill and we are pleased to see it become law.
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