In that period of time, the situation of the elderly my change significantly. Instead of being in the response stage, older persons are in the recovery stage and many different kinds of service gain in importance. For example, abuse and exploitation has become more important now than it was initially. The Administration on Aging attempts to maintain flexibility in the funds that are received through this process because it recognizes that the needs change through the passage of time. Nonetheless, the Administration on Aging does recognize that the more immediate the assistance provided older victims, the more impact on that persons ability to recover.
Supplemental appropriations are another instance where the maintenance of good records are critical.
Whereas funds may not be available for four to six months under this process, they may be used to pay back costs accrued from the time of the disaster. State and Area Agencies on Aging are forced into a situation where severe risk-taking has taken place under this set of circumstances. The network will provide the best intelligence possible to assist in these most difficult decisions by State and Area Agencies on Aging. The Administration on Aging is making an effort to address this very difficult set of circumstances. At the end of each fiscal year, the Administration on Aging asks states to determine whether all the funds made available for that year are needed.