Final Rule:

2024 Update to ACL’s 

Older Americans Act Regulations

On February 6, 2024, ACL released a final rule to update the regulations implementing its Older 

Americans Act (OAA) programs. The new regulations will take effect on March 15, 2024, but regulated 

entities have until October 1, 2025 to comply. ACL looks forward to working with partners in the aging 

network to implement the final rule and will provide robust technical assistance and other resources to 

support states, tribes and tribal organizations, area agencies on aging, and others in the aging network 

in meeting its requirements. 

Additional information can be found on ACL.gov/OAArule.

Summary

With the release of the OAA final rule, ACL has achieved 

a significant milestone, one that will ensure the nation’s 

growing population of older adults can continue 

to receive the services and supports they need to 

maintain their independence and quality of life. The last 

substantial update to most OAA program regulations was 

in 1988, and our world has changed dramatically in the 

35 years since. The population of older adults has nearly 

doubled, and older adults are living longer than ever 

before. Their expectations for aging are different from 

those of earlier generations. Increased understanding 

of the impact of the social determinants of health is 

reshaping health care, as non- medical services that help 

people avoid hospitalization and institutional care – like 

those provided through OAA programs – are increasingly 

being incorporated into health care service delivery 

models. In addition, the OAA has been amended by 

Congress seven times since 1988.

One important aspect has not changed: older adults 

overwhelmingly want to continue to live independently, in 

the community – and nearly 95 percent of them do.

The final rule contains updates that reflect the needs 

of today’s older adults, align the regulations to the 

current statute, address issues that have emerged since 

the last update, and clarify a number of requirements. 

The final rule aims to better support the national aging 

network that delivers OAA services and improve program 

implementation, with the ultimate goal of better serving 

older adults.

The final rule is the culmination of many years of 

engagement with the national aging network. It also 

reflects input received through a request for information 

(RFI) and a series of listening sessions, including 

consultations with tribes and other engagement with 

Native American grantees, as well as more than 780 

comments received in response to the June 2023 Notice 

of Proposed Rule Making.

Key Provisions of the Final Rule

The final rule:

• Clarifies requirements for state and area plans on

aging and details requirements for coordination

among tribal, state and local programs.

• Improves consistency of definitions and operations

between state and tribal OAA programs.

• Clarifies and strengthens provisions for meeting OAA

requirements for prioritizing people with the greatest

social and economic needs.

• Specifies the broad range of people who can receive

services, how funds can be used, fiscal requirements,

and other requirements that apply across programs.

• Clarifies required state and local agency policies and

procedures. For example, the final rule establishes

expectations regarding conflicts of interest.

Last Updated: 2/2024

The Administration for Community Living is an operating division of 

the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Visit ACL.gov.
• Requires state agencies to establish flexible and

streamlined processes for area agencies to receive

approval for contracts and commercial relationships.

• Incorporates guidance for the National Family

Caregiver Support Program and the Native American

Caregiver Support Program, which were authorized

since the last update to the OAA regulations.

• Addresses emergency preparedness and response,

incorporating lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic.

• Establishes expectations for legal assistance and

activities to prevent elder abuse.

• Clarifies the role of the aging network in defending

against the imposition of guardianship and in

promoting alternatives.

• Updates definitions, modernizes requirements,

and clarifies flexibilities within the senior nutrition

programs. For example, the final rule allows for

continuation of innovations utilized during the

COVID-19 pandemic, such as carry-out meals

provided under the congregate meals program, in

certain circumstances.

About the Older Americans Act

First passed in 1965 and last reauthorized on March 

25, 2020, the OAA authorizes a wide range of programs 

and services that help older adults age in place. These 

include home-delivered and congregate meals, support 

for family caregivers, preventive health services, 

personal and home care services, transportation, legal 

assistance, elder abuse prevention, and much more. 

In addition, the OAA provides ombudsman services for 

people who live in long-term care facilities.

Through the aging services network, the OAA has 

helped older adults remain active and engaged in their 

communities, to the great benefit of all. Because of 

the OAA, neighborhoods and organizations across the 

country are able to continue to draw upon the wealth of 

knowledge that comes only with life experience.

ACL administers most provisions of the OAA through its 

Administration on Aging. (The OAA Senior Community 

Services Employment Program is administered by the 

U.S. Department of Labor and is not covered by ACL’s 

final rule.)

Effective Date and Compliance 

Information 

The final rule will take effect on March 15, 2024 (30 days 

after it is officially published), and regulated entities 

have until October 1, 2025 to comply. In the coming 

months, ACL will share resources and provide robust 

technical assistance to support states, tribes and tribal 

organizations, area agencies on aging, and others in the 

aging network in meeting the requirements of the new 

regulations. ACL also will work with regulated entities 

in a supportive corrective action process if more time is 

needed to fully comply with specific provisions. 

Learn More

Save the dates for these upcoming webinars:

• Informational Webinar: Join ACL for an overview of

the updated regulations on Thursday, Feb. 8 from 2-3

p.m. (Eastern).

• “Back to Basics” technical assistance webinar:

On Thursday, Feb. 15 from 2-3:30 p.m. (Eastern),

ACL will host the first in a series of webinars to

support the network in implementing the updated

regulations.

More information, including registration information

for these webinars, a link to the final rule, and links to 

resources and technical assistance can be found at ACL.

gov/OAArule.

The final rule was posted “on display” in the Federal 

Register on Feb. 6, 2024 and will be published officially

on Feb. 14, 2024.