The Older American’s Act needs to be Reauthorized

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Lyndon B. Johnson is often remembered as the Vice President under John F. Kennedy. Johnson was the 36th President of the United States of America. During his tenure, Johnson launched a social reform plan called The Great Society. This came thirty years after Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal reforms. These Great Society Reforms included the Civil Rights Act (1964 and 1968), the Voting Rights Act (1965), the Social Security Amendments (1965), Medicare and Medicaid (1965), and the Older Americans’ Act (1965).

Johnson signed the Older Americans Act on July 14, 1965. During the signing ceremony, Johnson stated, “The Older Americans Act clearly affirms our Nation’s sense of responsibility toward the well-being of all our older citizens.” This act was passed in response to concerns about the lack of community social services for older persons. In 1965, the average life span was 70 years, with people retiring at 65. Sixty years later, the retirement age is still roughly the same. But life expectancy has risen to 78 years. It is true. Americans are living longer, healthier lives.

This is the time when the Older Americans Act is vital for Minnesota. Nursing homes are closing. There are fewer home care agencies. Our state is facing a declining workforce. It is time to come together to support our communities, friends, and families. Only through collaboration will we be able to support older adults and caregivers. The Older Americans Act is set to do that. The Act offers a wide variety of services and support.

Through supportive services programs, it allows organizations to provide services such as chore, homemaker, and assisted transportation. The nutritional services program provides older adults with a nutritious meal with friends. If older adults are not able to congregate, they can choose to receive a home-delivered meal. Evidence-based classes support older adults in the aging process. These include Matter of Balance or Living Well with Diabetes. Classes occur within a group setting, and some are virtual classes. Finally, the Older Americans Act recognizes the importance of caregivers. The caregiver program focuses on the individual helping the older adult. It does not matter if that caregiver structure is formal or informal. These caregiver programs provide support groups, training, and counseling.

MNRAAA awards funds to these organizations and aids in managing the grant. Individuals see the programs through their daily routine. Walking by the community center where the Senior Dining menu hangs in the window. The local bus passes through town on its way to an appointment. Older adults or caregivers gathering after a support group. Local community-based organizations are providing these services. The organizations help these services’ older adults to remain independent and in their communities.

Every four years, the United States Congress reviews the Older Americans Act. They review the impact on the programs. In 2025, Area Agencies on Aging in Minnesota helped in serving 1,788 older adults with Homemaker services. Homemaker services include light housekeeping, meal preparation, or shopping. During that same time, 2,790 older adults received help from assisted transportation. A volunteer or staff member provided a ride to an older adult to a medical appointment, grocery shopping, or to the pharmacy through this service. Over 60,000 trips occurred through the assisted transportation service. Finally, in 2025, over two million meals were provided to older adults through the Home-Delivered Meal Program.

The last time the Act was reauthorized was in March 2020. Congress needs to review the Older Americans Act. They will see the significance it has in the lives of older adults and caregivers. It is time to reauthorize the Older Americans Act! The programs mentioned rely on the Act. MNRAAA will be working with all AAA’s, USAging, and others in the Aging Networks to seek reauthorization of this legislation, created to be responsible for all our older citizens.

 

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Minnesota River Area Agency on Aging (MNRAAA) Awards Over $2.9 Million in Grants

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Minnesota River Area Agency on Aging (MNRAAA) awards over $2.9 million in grants

Mankato, MN, February 2, 2026 – The Minnesota River Area Agency on Aging, Inc. (MNRAAA) has announced that 19 programs from 13 organizations were granted Title III funding awards totaling more than $2.9 million. The awards are funded under Title III of the Older Americans Act (OAA) and include Supportive Services, Nutrition Services, Evidence-Based Health Promotion Programs, and Family Caregiver Services.

As a state-designated Area Agency on Aging, MNRAAA administers OAA funds and is responsible for the development of a coordinated and comprehensive system of services for older adults and their caregivers in Big Stone, Blue Earth, Brown, Chippewa, Cottonwood, Faribault, Jackson, Kandiyohi, Lac qui Parle, Le Sueur, Lincoln, Lyon, Martin, McLeod, Meeker, Murray, Nicollet, Nobles, Pipestone, Redwood, Renville, Rock, Sibley, Swift, Waseca, Watonwan and Yellow Medicine Counties. To accomplish this, MNRAAA awards Title III OAA funding to agencies and organizations that provide direct services for older adults (age 60+) and their caregivers.

“MNRAAA is pleased to showcase these community-based organizations and the services they provide to their community. These organizations are assisting in building strong communities where older adults and caregivers can thrive,” MNRAAA Executive Director Jason W. Swanson stated. “With individuals living longer and healthier lives (a great thing!), we need to provide services that support the whole person while maintaining their dignity and independence.

The following grants have been awarded for 2026:

Title III-B Supportive Services

  1. Central Community Transit (Kandiyohi, Meeker, and Renville Counties)
    1. CCT Senior Transportation Program 2026
    2. Services Include
      1. Assisted Transportation
      2. Transportation
  2. City of Tyler (Lincoln County, City of Tyler only)
    1. Tyler Snow Removal Assistance Program
    2. Services Include
      1. Chore
  3. Essential Senior Services (Nobles County)
    1. Essential Senior Services Chore and Homemaker 2026
    2. Services Include
      1. Chore
      2. Homemaker
  4. Interfaith Caregivers (Faribault County)
    1. Eldercare Program
    2. Services Include
      1. Assisted Transportation
      2. Chore
      3. Homemaker
      4. Transportation
  5. Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services (All 27 counties of the MNRAAA service area)
    1. Legal Aid
    2. Services Include
      1. Legal Assistance
      2. Legal Education
  6. United Community Action Partnership (Cottonwood, Jackson, Lincoln, Lyon, Murray, Nobles, Pipestone, Redwood, and Rock Counties)
    1. Assisting Seniors on the Go
    2. Services Include
      1. Assisted Transportation
  7. Waseca Area Caregiver Services (Waseca County)
    1. Caring Hands
    2. Services Include
      1. Chore
      2. Homemaker

 

Title III-C Congregate Meals and Home Delivered Meals (including Federal Title III-C, State of Minnesota Funding, and Nutrition Services Incentive Program)

  1. Lutheran Social Service (LSS) of Minnesota (Blue Earth, Brown, Cottonwood, Faribault, Jackson, Kandiyohi, Le Sueur, Lincoln, Lyon, Martin, McLeod, Meeker, Murray, Nicollet, Nobles, Pipestone, Redwood, Renville, Rock, Sibley, Waseca, and Watonwan Counties)
    1. LSS Meals Programs
    2. Services Include
      1. Congregate Dining
      2. Home-Delivered Meals
  2. Prairie Five Community Action Council (Big Stone, Chippewa, Lac qui Parle, Swift, and Yellow Medicine Counties)
    1. Prairie Five Meals
    2. Services Include
      1. Congregate Dining
      2. Home-Delivered Meals

 

Title III-D Disease Prevention and Health Promotion Funding Recommendations

  1. C.E. of Southwest Minnesota (Cottonwood, Lincoln, Lyon, Murray, Nobles, Pipestone, Redwood, and Rock Counties)
    1. C.E. Evidence-Based Programs for Evidence-Based Health Promotion Programs
  2. VINE Faith in Action (Blue Earth, Le Sueur, and Nicollet Counties)
    1. Finding a Healthy Way through VINE’s Evidence-Based Programming for Evidence-based Health Promotion Programs

 

Title III-E National Family Caregiver Support Services

  1. C.E. of Southwest Minnesota (Cottonwood, Lincoln, Lyon, Murray, Nobles, Pipestone, Redwood, and Rock Counties)
    1. C.E. Caregiver Support Services
    2. Services include
      1. Caregiver Counseling
      2. Caregiver Respite-In Home
      3. Caregiver Support Groups
  2. Caregiver Response Effort & Service Team (CREST) (Martin County)
    1. Opening Doors for Caregiver Healthy Living
    2. Services include
      1. Caregiver Counseling
      2. Caregiver Respite-In Home
      3. Caregiver Support Groups
      4. Caregiver Training
  3. Interfaith Caregivers (Faribault County)
    1. Caregiver Support and Respite Program
    2. Services Include
      1. Caregiver Counseling
      2. Caregiver Respite-In Home
      3. Caregiver Respite-Out Home Day
      4. Caregiver Training
  4. Lutheran Social Service (LSS) of Minnesota (Big Stone, Chippewa, Kandiyohi, Lac qui Parle, McLeod, Meeker, Renville, Sibley, Swift, and Yellow Medicine Counties)
    1. LSS Caregiver Support and Respite Program
    2. Services Include
      1. Caregiver Respite-In Home
      2. Caregiver Respite-Out Home Day
      3. Caregiver Counseling
      4. Caregiver Support Groups
      5. Caregiver Training
  5. Prairie Five Community Action Council (Big Stone, Chippewa, Lac qui Parle, Swift, and Yellow Medicine Counties)
    1. Step by Step, Side by Side
    2. Services Include
      1. Caregiver Counseling
      2. Caregiver Training
  6. VINE Faith in Action (Blue Earth, Le Sueur, and Nicollet Counties)
    1. Empowering Caregivers – A Comprehensive Program of Education and Support at VINE
    2. Services Include
      1. Caregiver Counseling
      2. Caregiver Support Groups
      3. Caregiver Training
  7. Waseca Area Caregiver Services (Waseca County)
    1. Caring Hands for Caregivers
    2. Services Include
      1. Caregiver Counseling
      2. Caregiver Respite-In Home
      3. Caregiver Respite-Out of Home Day
      4. Caregiver Support Groups
      5. Caregiver Training
  8. Wellspring Faith in Action (Watonwan County)
    1. Family Caregiver Project
    2. Services Include
      1. Caregiver Respite-Out of Home Day
      2. Caregiver Support Groups
      3. Caregiver Training

 

About the Minnesota River Area Agency on Aging

MNRAAA is a private non-profit organization based in Mankato, MN. MNRAAA, as the designated area agency on aging, covers twenty-seven counties in Southwestern Minnesota. MNRAAA also operates the Veteran Directed Care program in Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota. As a non-profit, is overseen by a volunteer Board of Directors.

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