44th Anniversary of the Signing of The Older Americans Act

I received this email from the Agency on Aging this morning.

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 signed the Older Americans Act into law. At the ceremony, President Johnson said, "The Older Americans Act clearly affirms our Nation's sense of responsibility toward the well-being of all of our older citizens. But even more, the results of this act will help us to expand our opportunities for enriching the lives of all of our citizens in this country, now and in the years to come. This legislation is really the seed-corn that provides an orderly, intelligent, and constructive program to help us meet the new dimensions of responsibilities which lie ahead in the remaining years of this century. Under this program every State and every community can now move toward a coordinated program of services and opportunities for our older citizens." He continued, "The Older Americans Act will make it possible for us to move faster in these places where we have already started. It will permit us to travel new ways where old ways have not worked before. It will permit new beginnings where none have been made before." President Johnson went on to say, "The grants under this law will be modest in dollars, but will have far reaching results. Its results will come from where they are needed - always at the hometown level."

Now, 44 years later, those inspiring words continue to guide our work on behalf of millions of older Americans and their families. The Older Americans Act programs and services, which exist in nearly every community in America, have made a difference in the lives of our aging population -- providing so many older Americans with the opportunity to live at home for as long as possible with their families and friends. The Act has created an extraordinary network of dedicated individuals, advocates, volunteers, community-based organizations and Federal, state, tribal and local partners whose work each and every day makes life better for older Americans and their caregivers.

As we work together to meet the pressing demographic, social, and economic challenges before us, let us reflect on the tremendous progress that has been made over the past four decades to support older Americans. 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 of you to continue to honor our older Americans and to meet the needs of America's future generations.