Why does a government shutdown matter? Because it doesn't just disrupt Washington—it impacts everyone. 

If the shutdown drags on, it could be harder for older adults to get the support they need to age well. Things like home-delivered meals, senior center programs, and caregiver support, funded by the Older Americans Act, could be scaled back. And that’s a big deal. Millions of Americans rely on those services every day.

Is there any good news? Right now, the shutdown won’t impact Social Security payments or the upcoming ⁠Medicare Open Enrollment period. It also won’t affect programs that help make Medicare more affordable (like MIPPA). 

But here's the bottom line: older adults can't afford to be left behind. We need Congress to come together in a bipartisan manner to fully fund the government and protect the programs that help us all age well. 

Ramsey Alwin recently appeared on C-SPAN to talk about the growing number of older adults living in poverty. While programs like Social Security will keep running during the shutdown, rising consumer prices continue to make it tough for many older adults to afford essentials. She shared solutions and ways NCOA is helping. 

Your elected officials expect to hear from you—especially now! If something matters to you, don’t hesitate to speak up. You can use NCOA’s Action Center to tell them about the issues that impact older adults and your community.

Aging is something we all have in common. That's why we will continue working every day to make sure Congress understands why supporting older adults matters.

Our team is closely tracking what's happening on Capitol Hill with the shutdown and related programs, and we will keep you updated.

Stay tuned!

The NCOA Team

Having trouble viewing this email or want to view it in your browser? Click here!

251 18th Street South, Suite 500 | Arlington, VA 22202

©2025 National Council on Aging, Inc.

If you believe you received this message in error or wish to no longer receive email from us, please unsubscribe.