Administration on Aging 

www.acl.gov
 

Administration on Aging 

Advancing the independence and well-being of older Americans 

As a unit of the Administration for Community Living, AoA provides 

expertise on program development, advocacy, and initiatives for 

older Americans and their caregivers and families. Working with 

regional offices, local agencies, grantees, and community 

providers, AoA directs programs authorized by the Older 

Americans Act (OAA) and other legislation that supports older 

adults. AoA is led by the Assistant Secretary for Aging and the 

Deputy Assistant Secretary for Aging. 

National Aging Services Network 

The OAA established a national 

network of federal, state, and local 

agencies to provide services that 

maximize the independence and 

well-being of older adults in their 

homes and communities. Known as 

the Aging Services Network, this 

group supports individuals age 60 

and older across the U.S. Network 

agencies focus on older adults in 

greatest need of supports, including 

people with low incomes, those in 

rural areas, and members of minority 

groups. Headed by AoA, the Network 

includes State Units on Aging, Area 

Agencies on Aging, and Tribal 

organizations supported by tens of 

thousands of community service 

providers and volunteers. 

State Units on Aging (SUAs) 

SUAs are responsible for developing 

and administering multi-year state 

plans that advocate for and aid older 

residents, their families, and, in many 

states, adults with physical disabilities. 

The 56 SUAs are in each of the 50 

states, the District of Columbia, Guam, 

Puerto Rico, American Samoa, the 

Northern Mariana Islands, and 

the Virgin Islands. 

Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs)

AAAs are public and private nonprofit 

agencies that address the needs of 

older adults at the regional and local 

levels. AAAs coordinate and offer 

services that help older adults to 

choose services and living 

arrangements that suit their unique 

needs and preferences. There are 

currently more than 600 AAAs. 

Tribal Organizations 

Organizations of federally recognized 

Tribes focus on planning and 

delivering supportive services, 

caregiver support services, and 

nutrition services to American 

Indian, Alaskan Native, and Native 

Hawaiian elders. 

ABOUT THE OAA 

In 1965, Congress passed 

the OAA in response to a 

lack of community social 

services for older citizens. 

It established state grants 

for community planning 

and social services, 

research and development, 

and personnel training in 

the field of aging. The law 

also established AoA as 

the federal hub for matters 

concerning older adults. 

Today, the OAA is a vehicle 

for the organization and 

delivery of a wide range 

of supportive services to 

older adults as well as their 

families and caregivers. 

Reauthorized in 2016, the 

OAA funds: 

• Social, nutrition, health 

promotion, and disease 

prevention programs; 

• Community service 

employment; 

• Caregiver support 

programs; 

• Training, research, and 

demonstration activities; 

and 

• Activities that advance 

rights of vulnerable older 

adults. 

Last Updated: July 2018 

ACL is an operating division of the 

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. 
ENGAGE AT EVERY A G E : MAY

ADMINISTRATION ON AGING (AoA)
 

AoA Offices 

Office of Supportive and Caregiver Services: Works 

with the Aging Services Network to implement and 

enhance programs of home and community-based 

services, information and assistance, senior centers and 

caregiver support services at the state and community 

levels. This includes providing technical assistance to the 

Network on the implementation of formula and discretionary grant programs, 

transportation and housing programs, and guiding the agency in dementiaspecific programs and policy development. 

Office of Nutrition and Health Promotion Programs:

Manages programs that prevent or delay the onset of 

disease and promote improved health outcomes for older 

adults, including evidence-based chronic disease selfmanagement education and falls prevention interventions, 

congregate and home delivered meals, oral health, and 

behavioral health. This work is accomplished by administering discretionary and 

formula grants, and through the provision of technical assistance to Aging 

Network partners on program implementation and sustainability via business 

acumen concepts and practices. 

Office of Long-Term Care Ombudsman Programs:

Manages the implementation of states’ OAA-funded 

Long-Term Care Ombudsman programs, which serve as 

advocates for residents in long-term care facilities. 

Advocates for federal policies that protect and benefit 

the health, safety, welfare, and rights of residents in 

long-term care facilities. 

Office of Elder Justice and Adult Protective Services:

Directs the operation and assessment of OAA and Elder 

Justice Act programs on elder abuse prevention and 

intervention, including adult protective services; legal 

assistance services; economic security for older adults. 

Administers the implementation of comprehensive Adult 

Protective Services systems to provide coordinated responses to abuse, 

neglect, and exploitation of older adults and adults with disabilities. 

Office for American Indian, Alaskan Native, 

and Native Hawaiian Programs: Federally recognized 

tribes focus on planning and delivering supportive 

services, caregiver support services, and nutrition 

services to American Indian, Alaskan Native, and Native 

Hawaiian elders. 

The Eldercare Locator is 

AoA’s free public service 

that connects older adults, 

families, and caregivers 

with aging information and 

local resources. The website 

offers fact sheets and 

outreach materials as well 

as a database of community 

resources that can be 

searched by topic or location. 

Information specialists are 

available by phone, online 

chat, and email. Hours of 

operation are Monday through 

Friday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET. 

www.eldercare.gov 

800-677-1116 (toll-free) 

OLDER 

AMERICANS 

MONTH 

Each May, AoA leads our 

nation’s celebration of Older 

Americans Month. Proclaimed 

by every President since John 

F. Kennedy, the observance 

is a time to recognize 

the contributions of older 

Americans and an opportunity 

to highlight important 

aging issues and trends. 

AoA maintains the Older 

Americans Month website 

and creates all materials 

found at oam.acl.gov. 

Administration for Community Living 

330 C Street SW, Washington, DC 20201 | (202) 401-4634 | aclinfo@acl.hhs.gov 

2018