Title: Protecting Older Americans from Social Isolation Act of 2019
Policy area: Social Welfare

Summary:
Protecting Older Americans from Social Isolation Act of 2019
This bill establishes an advisory committee, modifies certain functions of the Administration on Aging, and makes changes to grants and other activities to address the negative health effects associated with social isolation among older individuals.
It also expands the scope of certain programs for caregivers of older adults to include caregivers of those with Alzheimer's disease or similar neurological disorders of any age.

[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4859 Introduced in House (IH)]

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116th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 4859

  To amend the Older Americans Act of 1965 to reduce social isolation 
                        among older individuals.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            October 24, 2019

Mr. Trone (for himself and Mr. Walberg) introduced the following bill; 
       which was referred to the Committee on Education and Labor

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  To amend the Older Americans Act of 1965 to reduce social isolation 
                        among older individuals.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Protecting Older Americans from 
Social Isolation Act of 2019''.

SEC. 2. INCREASED FOCUS OF ASSISTANT SECRETARY ON HEALTH EFFECTS OF 
              SOCIAL ISOLATION.

    Section 202(a) of the Older Americans Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 
3012(a)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (30) by striking ``; and'' and inserting a 
        semicolon;
            (2) in paragraph (31) by striking the period at the end and 
        inserting ``; and''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(32) develop objectives, priorities, and a long-term plan 
        for supporting State and local efforts involving education 
        about, prevention of, detection of, and response to negative 
        health effects associated with social isolation among older 
        individuals.''.

SEC. 3. ADVISORY COUNCIL ON HEALTH EFFECTS OF SOCIAL ISOLATION.

    Section 202 of the Older Americans Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3012) is 
amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``(h)(1) The Assistant Secretary shall convene an advisory council 
on negative health effects associated with social isolation with aging 
network stakeholders, including caregivers, and select members in a 
manner that ensures geographic diversity of the members--
            ``(A) to review and evaluate efforts to address negative 
        health effects associated with social isolation among older 
        individuals; and
            ``(B) to identify challenges, solutions, and best practices 
        related to such efforts.
    ``(2) The advisory council convened under paragraph (1) shall--
            ``(A) ensure consideration of consumer-directed care 
        models; and
            ``(B) submit a report to Congress on its findings.
    ``(3) The Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not 
apply with respect to the advisory council convened under paragraph 
(1).''.

SEC. 4. SUPPORTIVE SERVICES AND SENIOR CENTERS.

    Section 321(a) of the Older Americans Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 
3030d(a)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (24) by striking ``and'' at the end;
            (2) by redesignating paragraph (25) as paragraph (26); and
            (3) by inserting after paragraph (24) the following:
            ``(25) services that promote or support social 
        connectedness and reduce negative health effects associated 
        with social isolation; and''.

SEC. 5. DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS.

    (a) Demonstrations.--Section 411(a) of the Older Americans Act of 
1965 (42 U.S.C. 3032(a)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (13) by striking ``and'' at the end;
            (2) by redesignating paragraph (14) as paragraph (15); and
            (3) by inserting after paragraph (13) the following:
            ``(14) projects that address negative health effects 
        associated with social isolation among older adults; and''.
    (b) Repeal.--Section 416 of the Older Americans Act of 1965 (42 
U.S.C. 3032e) is repealed.

SEC. 6. YOUNGER ONSET ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE.

    (a) Definition of ``Family Caregiver''.--Section 302(3) of the 
Older Americans Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3022(3)) is amended by inserting 
``of any age'' after ``an individual''.
    (b) Definition of ``Resident''.--Section 711(6) of the Older 
Americans Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3058(6)) is amended by inserting ``of 
any age'' after ``individual''.
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