Action Alerts

PROTECT SENIORS SERVICES GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

Missourians aged 60+ have built this state. We rely on the promised support of our Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs)—funded by dedicated state resources—to live with dignity in our own homes and stay connected to our communities.

Today, we are at a crossroads. While we have seen progress, a significant threat to our senior service infrastructure is looming in the FY2026 budget.

THE WIN: Medicaid Meal Rate Increase

We want to start by applauding the Governor for his amended budget, which includes an increase to the Medicaid meal reimbursement rate. This is a major victory for several reasons:

• Smart Fiscal Policy: This increase leverages federal funds and requires no new Missouri tax dollars.
• Addressing Hunger: It helps bridge the gap between the actual cost of providing nutritious meals and the outdated rates providers have struggled with for years.

THE CRISIS: The Proposed 20% SSGDP Cut

While the meal rate increase helps pay for the food, the Senior Services Growth & Development Program (SSGDP) is what keeps our Centers and programs open. Missouri is currently considering a 20% funding cut to the SSGDP.

One cannot succeed without the other. Here is why this cut must be rejected:

• Infrastructure vs. Ingredients: SSGDP funds the “bones” of our operation—the kitchens, utilities, delivery vans, and staff required to get meals to seniors. A meal rate increase does no good if the center itself is forced to close its doors.
• The Backbone of the Community: This funding supports the “Safety Net,” including medical transportation, health screenings, and caregiver support.
• Economic Impact: A 20% cut is catastrophic. Without these community hubs, seniors face increased isolation and a higher likelihood of moving into expensive, state-funded institutional care. Once a center closes, it rarely re-opens.

Our Position: Missouri Seniors Deserve Better

We cannot celebrate a win for nutrition while simultaneously gutting the infrastructure that makes meal delivery and senior independence possible. A meal rate increase won’t help if there is no kitchen to cook in and no driver to deliver it.

📢 Call to Action: How You Can Help

Please contact your legislators today and urge them to:

1. Maintain the increased Medicaid meal reimbursement rate.
2. Restore Full Funding for the Senior Services Growth & Development Program (SSGDP).

SAMPLE MESSAGING: Please reject the proposed 20% cut to the Senior Services Growth and Development Program (SSGDP) funds to Area Agencies on Aging in HB10. Don’t take away the meals and home-care services our seniors rely on for their dignity and independence.

PROTECT SENIORS SERVICES GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

Missouri’s seniors are facing a looming crisis. Currently, a 20% funding cut is being considered for the Senior Services Growth & Development Program (SSGDP). While this may look like a budget adjustment on paper, for our older neighbors, it is a direct threat to their ability to live with dignity and independence in their own homes.

This program provides the essential “safety net” services that keep Missourians from being forced into institutional care prematurely.

How These Cuts Will Impact Missouri’s Seniors

For a senior living on a fixed income, these services are not luxuries—they are life-sustaining. A 20% reduction in funding translates to:

• Growing Hunger: The statewide loss of approximately 283,000 meals means that thousands of homebound seniors will face long waitlists for Meals on Wheels, losing the reliable nutrition and wellness checks they depend on.
• Lost Mobility and Safety: Vital home modifications—like wheelchair ramps and stairlifts—will be cut. For many, these are the only things preventing a catastrophic fall or a permanent move to a nursing facility.
• Isolation in Rural Counties: In rural counties, AAA-coordinated transit is often the only way for a senior to get to dialysis, a doctor’s appointment, or a grocery store. Without these funds, these seniors are effectively abandoned.
• Increased Hardship for Families: Family caregivers provide billions in unpaid labor. By reducing respite care and essential supplies (like mobility aids and incontinence items), these cuts accelerate caregiver burnout and force families to make the heartbreaking choice of nursing home placement.

A Fiscal Decision with Human Consequences

Cutting the SSGDP doesn’t save money—it just shifts the bill to a much more expensive ledger. When we strip away preventative care, we force seniors into emergency rooms and nursing homes. We are choosing to trade proactive, affordable community support for the skyrocketing costs of Medicaid-funded crisis care. We can pay for independence now, or we will be forced to pay for institutionalization later.

Call to Action

We must honor Missouri’s seniors by protecting the programs that allow them to age in place.

Contact your Missouri legislators today!

A partial federal government shutdown is just hours away, and the timing could not be worse for Missouri’s seniors.

Despite progress on Fiscal Year 2026 funding, the U.S. Senate is currently at a standstill. While the House passed a critical funding package last week, a deep partisan divide over Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding—sparked by recent tragic events in Minneapolis—has halted movement in the Senate.

The deadline to act is tomorrow, Friday, January 30.

Why This is a Crisis for Missouri

If Congress fails to pass the remaining funding bills, the Labor/HHS/Education package—which contains the Older Americans Act (OAA) funding—will be caught in the crossfire.

Missouri’s Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) are still reeling from the financial “hangover” of the 43-day shutdown last fall. Another lapse in funding threatens the very programs that allow our seniors to live with health and dignity, including:

• Nutrition: Meals on Wheels and congregate dining for those facing food insecurity.
• Safety: Wellness checks and elder abuse prevention services.
• Independence: Transportation to life-saving medical appointments and support for family caregivers.

The Obstacle

Even if the Senate reaches a last-minute compromise, any changes to the bill would require a new vote in the House. With the House currently in recess and Washington, D.C. recovering from a major ice storm, a return to session is unlikely before early next week—well past the Friday deadline.

Take Action Now

We cannot allow political disagreements over DHS policy to jeopardize the meals and safety of Missouri’s most vulnerable citizens.

Please urge our Senators to decouple the aging and health funding from the DHS negotiations or pass a clean extension immediately. Our seniors cannot afford to be collateral damage in another D.C. stalemate.

Sample Messaging:

As your constituent, I urge you to prevent a government shutdown this Friday.

Missouri’s seniors cannot afford another lapse in funding for the Older Americans Act. Our Area Agencies on Aging are still recovering from last fall’s shutdown; a second disruption will jeopardize Meals on Wheels, medical transportation, and in-home care for our state’s most vulnerable citizens. Our seniors should not be collateral damage in a DC stalemate. Please pass funding now!

If your situation allows, please support your local Area Agency on Aging to protect seniors!

The clock is ticking.

The Situation: Following the longest government shutdown in U.S. history this past fall, Congress passed a temporary Continuing Resolution (CR) that restored funding—but only until January 30th.

The Crisis: If a full-year funding bill is not passed by the end of this month, Missouri’s aging services face another devastating shutdown.

The Need: Older Americans Act (OAA) programs are the backbone of senior support. We need a budget that not only protects these programs but increases funding to meet the needs of Missouri’s rapidly growing older population.

Why This Matters for Missouri

Seniors in our state rely on Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) for essential services that allow them to live with health, dignity, and independence in their own homes. Our agencies are still recovering from the financial “hangover” of the fall shutdown.

Missouri AAAs provide life-sustaining support, including:

• Nutrition: Home-delivered meals (Meals on Wheels) and congregate dining.
• Safety: Elder abuse prevention and wellness checks.
• Independence: Transportation to medical appointments, in-home care support, and help for family caregivers.

Without a full funding bill, these lifelines for Missouri seniors are at risk of being cut or delayed once again. Please contact your legislators today. Urge them to pass a full-year funding bill that prioritizes the Older Americans Act (OAA) and protects Missouri’s most vulnerable citizens.

Missouri seniors need you NOW. Act before it’s too late. Contact your legislators today!

Your Message Can Be Simple:

“As a constituent, I urge you to pass a full-year funding bill before the January 30th deadline. Missouri seniors cannot afford another government shutdown. Please protect and increase funding for the Older Americans Act (OAA) to ensure our Area Agencies on Aging can continue providing meals, transportation, and care to those who need it most. Thank you!”

As 2025 draws to a close, the Missouri Association of Area Agencies on Aging (ma4) looks back with gratitude and pride on a year of meaningful progress in supporting older Missourians and Missourians with disabilities. Together with our ten Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs), we continued our mission of service, information, and advocacy to help Missourians age with dignity, choice, and independence in the homes they love.

What We Accomplished Together:

• Delivering Essential Services — Missouri’s AAAs provided almost $140 million in services to over 141,000 older adults, including almost 8 million meals, along with in-home care, transportation, wellness programs, and caregiver support. Every dollar invested in our network generates $3.81 in community value and taxpayer savings, helping older adults avoid premature institutional care and remain independent.
• Successful Advocacy Efforts — Thanks to your voices and quick action from lawmakers, we secured passage of the FY 2025 Supplemental Budget in record time, protecting vital services for Missourians. We also advocated effectively at state and federal levels to prevent funding cuts and address rising needs amid Missouri’s growing aging population.
• Building Community and Knowledge — Our 20th annual Show Me Summit on Aging & Health convened professionals, leaders, and advocates to explore “Aging in a New Era.” This inspiring event fostered connections and innovative ideas for the future of aging services.
• Advancing Missouri’s Master Plan on Aging — With the Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) leading this historic initiative, our AAAs played a pivotal role in advancing the MPA, including conducting a statewide needs assessment, along with listening tours and town halls that gathered input from thousands of Missourians. The final plan, presented by DHSS, Missourians Aging with Dignity, is headed to Governor Kehoe’s desk! This roadmap will guide us toward a more age-friendly Missouri for decades to come.

None of this would have been possible without the dedication of our AAA partners, staff, volunteers, donors, and advocates like you. Thank you to the AAA leaders, staff, board members, and partners who do this work every day, even as the funding and policy landscapes continue to shift.

We are grateful to partner closely with Missouri’s Silver-Haired Legislature (SHL), the Missouri Council on Aging (MCoA), and the dedicated team at the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services. Your commitment enables us to be Missouri’s Trusted Voice on Aging, ensuring that every Missourian has the resources to thrive as they age.

As we step into 2026, we remain committed to creating an aging-friendly Missouri where everyone can live with dignity, choice, and independence.

Thank you for being part of our journey. Wishing you a joyful New Year!

P.S. Need local support? Find your Area Agency on Aging

P.S.S: Join ma4, the Missouri Silver-Haired Legislature (SHL), and the Missouri Council on Aging (MCoA) in Jeff City to advocate for Missouri Seniors!  Learn More Here

Urgent: Older Americans Act Reauthorization

We just learned that today is the deadline for Senate Republcans to move on Older Americans Act (OAA) Reauthorization.

Seniors in Missouri rely on support from Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) for essential services that help them live in their own homes with optimal health, well-being, and dignity.

AAAs support seniors with home-delivered meals; health and wellness programs; in-home care support; transportation; elder abuse prevention, support for caregivers, and much more!

The OAA allows AAAs to deliver these critical services. The OAA enjoys broad bi-partisan support. With the rapid growth in the older adult and caregiver populations, OAA Reauthorization must be a top priority.

Please contact Missouri Senators Hawley and Schmitt to urge expedited passage of S.2120, the Older Americans Act Reauthorization.

Take Action Now:

Ensure Seniors receive the support and care they deserve.

Sample Messaging:

On behalf of Missouri’s Area Agencies on Aging,  I urge you to support the expedited passage of S. 2120, the Older Americans Act (OAA) Reauthorization Act, under unanimous consent now.

As you know, AAAs plan, develop and deliver a wide range of OAA programs and services to serve older adults and caregivers. The OAA reauthorization is a top priority to ensure we can continue to help older adults age with maximum health and independence at home and in the community.

Missouri Seniors are counting on you!

Thank you!

Urgent: Missouri Seniors Face Hunger and Isolation – Act NOW

The federal government shutdown has pushed Missouri’s seniors into crisis. Over 30 days without FY 2026 discretionary funding – and the damage is escalating daily.

• 131,000 Missouri seniors lost SNAP benefits on November 1st.
• Home-delivered meals and senior centers are collapsing. Federal funding delays will force Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) to cut or suspend services for up to 8 weeks—even after the shutdown ends.
• Missouri’s AAAs are at breaking point, operating on empty reserves.

Our seniors cannot wait another week.

Congress must act NOW to:

1. End the shutdown immediately
2. Restore full federal funding without delay
3. Protect SNAP and Older Americans Act programs

Missouri’s AAAs are fighting for our seniors – but we need YOU!

Take Action Now:

Ensure no senior goes hungry or alone.

The clock is ticking. Even when the shutdown ends, it takes up to 8 weeks for funds to reach communities. The crisis doesn’t end when Congress says it does.

Missouri seniors need you NOW. Act before it’s too late.

For thousands of elderly Missourians, the federal government shutdown has moved past being an inconvenience and is now an impending crisis. The funding lapse directly threatens the existence of home-delivered meal programs and the crucial safety services provided by our Area Agencies on Aging (AAA).

We are talking about seniors who rely on this daily delivery for their primary source of nutrition. More importantly, that knock on the door is a daily safety check performed by dedicated staff and volunteers. Without that check, vulnerable individuals living alone are at severe risk of injury, falls, or illness going unnoticed for days. This service is a critical preventative measure, not charity.

Our local AAAs are resourceful and resilient, but they cannot operate indefinitely on empty promises and dwindling emergency funds. Federal allocations, primarily through the Older Americans Act, are the backbone of this support system. When Congress fails to pass appropriations, it puts an unsustainable strain on the local agencies that serve our communities every single day.

Delaying the reopening of the government is directly condemning our seniors to increased risk of hunger and isolation. We urge every member of our delegation to take immediate, definitive action to pass the necessary appropriations bill and restore Older Americans Act funding. Protecting the health, independence, and dignity of our older population should be the easiest vote they cast.

Urge Congress to reopen the government and protect our seniors!

If your situation allows, please support your local Area Agency on Aging to protect seniors!

Missouri’s Area Agencies on Aging (AAA) are on the front lines, and we can tell you plainly: the lapse in federal funding, particularly for the Older Americans Act (OAA), is placing serious and dangerous strain on the vital services our communities rely on every single day.

The Shut-Down Jeopardizes Essential Lifelines: The funding crisis directly jeopardizes the programs that keep our most vulnerable neighbors safe and independent in their homes. An extended shutdown could lead to:

• Potential Disruption of Senior Nutrition: Programs like home-delivered meals and community dining sites, which are often heavily reliant on federal funding, face a worrying delay in essential support. For thousands of  homebound seniors, these meals are their primary source of nutrition and their only daily safety check. Delays in funding mean the very real possibility of seniors facing hunger and isolation.
• Strain on Caregiver and Other Support: Services such that provide relief and training to family caregivers, such as respite care, may be forced to scale back, pushing already stressed families past their breaking point. Seniors who depend on AAA-supported transportation to get to medical appointments, pick up prescriptions, and access groceries could face significant obstacles.
• Delayed  Access to Funding: Historically after a shutdown, it has taken up to six weeks to resume funding to AAAs; this creates a risk of being forced to reduce, delay, or pause services.

The safety net for older Americans is already stretched to the limit. Congress must work swiftly to find a resolution. Action should be taken without delay to restore full government funding and protect our seniors.

Urge Congress to reopen the federal government now!

The US Senate Appropriations Committee recently approved the FY26 Labor/HHS spending bill. While it maintains current level funding for most Older Americans Act (OAA) programs, this is the time to advocate for an increase.

The bill thankfully reinstated funding for programs that the President’s budget proposed to eliminate, including LIHEAP (Low-Income Home Energy Assistance) and SCSEP (Senior Community Service Employment Program).

The House has not yet released their Labor/HHS proposal.

With Congress currently in recess, this is a critical time to contact your House Representative. Urge them to support increased funding for OAA programs and to protect other vital aging services in their upcoming proposal.

Negotiations on FY26 OAA funding are expected to resume in September. Your voice is important now to ensure that seniors are protected!

Reach out to your Representative

Sample Messaging:

Please support increased funding for Older Americans Act programs in the FY26 Labor/HHS spending bill. Flat funding is insufficient to support our growing aging community. Please champion a stronger commitment to seniors!

Thank you for your dedication to the well-being of older Americans.

Call Senator Hawley Now!

The US Senate is voting NOW on a federal reconciliation bill in a “vote-a-rama” session and expected to complete voting as early as today!

Please call Senator Hawley NOW and urge him to protect financially dangerous cuts to Medicaid.

The latest version of the Senate reconciliation bill could result in a $21.1 BILLION reduction in federal Medicaid funding over the next 10 years, resulting in a devastating blow to Missouri’s budget.

Senator Hawley has consistently said he OPPOSE Medicaid cuts that will harm Missourians. His vote is pivotal today!

Please call NOW and urge him to protect Missourians.

There is no time to wait. Please Call Now!

Ask Your Congress Member to:

Senator Hawley:

Please continue to stand as a champion for Missourians who rely on Medicaid! Please oppose dangerous cuts to Medicaid services and benefits.

Call Senator Hawley and Senator Schmitt Today!

Act Now to Critical Safety Net Programs for Missouri Seniors!

Lat month, the US House of Representatives passed the Reconciliation Bill, containing $700 billion in Medicaid cuts and $300 billion in cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

This bill is now being considered by the Senate with plans to rush to the Senate floor this month.

These proposed cuts would be devastating, likely resulting in 10.9 milion people losing Medicaid coverage, transferring cost to states and ultimately putting older adults and people with disabilities at risk of losing coverage for critical Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS). 

These cuts would be a devastating step backward, forcing people into costly institutional care – at a dramatically higher cost.

Action Needed: Contact Senator Hawley and Senator Schmitt TODAY! Thank them for their continued support for safety net programs.

Ask Your Congress Member to:

Please reject the dangerous and harmful cuts that are proposed to Medicaid and SNAP. Please protect older adults and people with disabilities who rely upon these essential program for critical home and community-based services (HCBS) that allow them to age well at home. Thank you for being a champion of critical safety net services.

Act Now to Protect Lifeline Services for Missouri Seniors!

Next week, the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee will mark up its portion of the reconciliation bill, proposing devastating cuts to Medicaid, including hundreds of billions for essential home and community-based services (HCBS). For millions of older adults and people with disabilities, these services are not just support – they are their lifeline to health and independence.

Missouri Seniors at Risk:

These Medicaid cuts will disproportionately harm Missouri’s seniors. Losing this vital support means:

• Undermining their ability to age in place.
• Making already expensive Medicare even less affordable.
• Eliminating coverage for crucial long-term care and other services Medicare doesn’t cover.
• Jeopardizing care for the nearly 96,000 Missourians aged 65+ who rely on Medicaid each month.

The Smart Investment:

Investing in Medicaid HCBS is not just compassionate – it’s smart economics. HCBS offers a far more cost-effective alternative to nursing homes (approximately $12,000 vs $56,000 annually), allowing individuals to thrive within their communities, easing the strain on families, and bolstering our economy.

A Devastating Step Backward:

Cutting HCBS would be a catastrophic mistake, forcing individuals into costly institutions and severely impacting their well-being.

Time is Running Out:

With the markup imminent, your voice is urgently needed! Contact your members of Congress in Washington D.C. today to demand they protect Medicaid HCBS. Tell them we must ensure older adults and people with disabilities in Missouri can continue to live with dignity, health, and connection in their own communities.

Ask Your Congress Member to:

Please oppose, and urge your colleagues to oppose, any cuts to Medicaid, thus ensuring that the older adults and people with disabilities who rely upon this essential program are protected and continue receiving the critical home and community-based services (HCBS) that allow them to age well at home. Thank you for being a champion of critical safety net services.

The Older Americans Act (OAA) is the lifeline that sustains the health, independence, and well-being of millions of older adults nationwide. Programs like home delivered meals, vital caregiver support, and essential transportation assistance are not just services; they are the bedrock of healthy and connected communities.

These very foundations are now under imminent threat. Dangerous proposals are circulating in Washington D.C. that would shatter the OAA, dismantling its proven framework by scattering its crucial programs across disparate federal departments. This reckless fragmentation would cripple the coordinated and efficient delivery of these essential services, inflicting irreparable harm on our most vulnerable older adults.

Dissolving the OAA framework is a direct assault on a well-established and effective system that provides indispensable support to aging Americans. This shortsighted action guarantees a chaotic and drastically weakened delivery of services, directly jeopardizing the health, well-being, and independence of our seniors.

To ensure our seniors remain strong, healthy, and connected, your voice is not just needed – it is a powerful weapon!

Here in Missouri, we stood tall for our seniors! Our Missouri Legislature and Governor Kehoe listened to your calls and acted decisively, expediting critical FY25 Supplemental Funding to keep our Area Agencies on Aging operating without interruption. Missourians understand the value of caring for our elders.

But Washington D.C. remains deaf to the urgent needs of Missouri’s seniors and  across the country!

There is no time to wait. The time to act is now. Join us in a united front to forcefully urge Congress to:

• KEEP ALL Older Americans Act programs TOGETHER under a unified and dedicated agency, such as the Administration for Children and Families (ACF).
• REJECT ANY and ALL attempts to eliminate critical aging programs.

The time is NOW to FIGHT with unwavering determination for our seniors.  Let your voice be heard loud and clear in the halls of Congress!

The Federal Budget Reconciliation process is rapidly advancing. NOW is the time to let Congress know how cuts to Medicaid and SNAP would impact the lives of real Missourians including older adults. In Missouri, Medicaid is the largest payor of home and community based services and is the primary source of coverage for nursing home care for around 65% of residents in Missouri. (AARP Fact Sheet in Medicaid’s Role for Older Missourians) (Missouri Foundation for Health – Missouri Medicaid Basics 2025). Cuts to Medicaid would shift healthcare costs to the state; the impact to Missouri’s budget would be profound and would and the Missouri budget is already The Missouri Budget Project shared important data on the impact of Medicaid cuts in Missouri – including that 9% of Missouri seniors are covered by Medicaid. And cuts to SNAP could harm to older adults already experiencing food insecurity. Please reach out to your US Senators and Representative to let them know how detrimental these cuts could be to older adults (Links to contact your U.S. Elected Officials Above).

Update: The Missouri House passed HB10 with a 12% increased rate! And the Senate Appropriations increased that amount slightly higher. Thank you!!

On to the Full Senate! Reach out to your Senator!

Home-delivered Medicaid meals provide essential nutrition and support to Missouri’s most vulnerable homebound older adults and adults with disabilities. This meal program is a crucial investment in their well-being, preventing costly and often unwanted placement in nursing homes. However, years of underfunding have created a severe crisis. The current Medicaid reimbursement rate ($6.21) fails to cover the actual costs ($9.97/meal). This financial strain is compounded by rising food prices, mandatory wage increases, and the increasing need for meals from Missouri’s growing senior population. The current rate of $6.21/meal was established in FY22 based on an independent rate study; the newly released Mercer Rate Study developed a new rate model between $10.09 to $10.99/meal. Please reach out today to your Senator to support an increased rate for Medicaid meal reimbursement in HB10.

Sample Messaging: Dear ____, Missouri seniors urgently need an increase in the Medicaid home-delivered meal reimbursement rate to ensure the program’s viability. Please support the proposed increase to the Medicaid home-delivered meal rate in HB10. The current rate is unsustainable and threatens the health and well-being of Missouri’s growing senior population. Thank you! Sincerely,_

Protect Aging Americans!

In an ever-changing world, one thing remains constant: We are all aging.

The sustained aging of our American population is driving a permanent increase in the percentage of older adults, establishing a historical demographic precedent.

The Trump Administration has proposed a restructuring of the U.S.Health and Human Services (HHS) that includes dismantling the ACL (Administration for Community Living) and division of ACL programs amongst other HHS programs.

The ACL oversees critical programs and services that help older adults and people with disabilities live well at home and in the community.

The Missouri Association of Area Agencies on Aging (ma4) joins our national association, USAging, and the national aging services network, to share serious concerns regarding the potential impacts on our aging Americans that would occur from this proposed dismantling.

Across the country, millions of older adults rely on Older Americans Act programs through the ACL to receive nutritious meals; to access transportation to medical appointments; and to receive in-home supportive services, such as help with bathing, dressing, and household chores.

Urgent questions are unanswered about how this dismantling, as well as a massive reduction of  staff, will affect the people we are charged to serve, their families, and their communities.

Please urge your Congress members to ensure that the breaking apart of the ACL does not create gaps in aging service delivery; lead to fewer resources for community-based organizations charged with planning and delivering those services; or ultimately create situations where older Americans are hungrier, less healthy, less safe or less independent—and their family caregivers are more burdened and stressed.

At an historic time when our country is experiencing the largest ever transformation to an older population, we must ensure that our country strengthens – not weakens – the aging services network that millions of older adults rely on to age well.

Sample Messaging

Dear ____,

Please protect aging Americans!

Proposed dismantling of the Administration for Community Living (ACL) could cause catastrophic damage to the services that millions of aging Americans rely upon to remain healthy and independent. Please ensure that we can all age well at home by protecting the infrastructure of Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs).  Please support policies that strengthen—not weaken—the systems that support aging with dignity and independence.                  

Protect Federal Older Americans Act Programs

Update: We did it thanks to you! Once again, thanks to quick action from you and others across the country, Congress passed the Continuing Resolution (CR) in time to avoid a funding crisis. Thank you once again for making your voices count!

FY 2025 Supplemental Budget supporting spending authority for AAAs

Because of you, today the Missouri Legislature has passed the FY 2025 Supplemental Budget —  in record time. Your passionate advocacy made all the difference. You understood the urgency, you spoke up for our seniors, and our legislators listened. This historic speed—the fastest Supplemental  passage ever—shows just how powerful your voices are. Because of you, aging Missourians will continue to receive the essential services they need from Area Agencies on Aging. While we know there are more battles to face, today, let’s celebrate this incredible win. Thank you to our tireless advocates! And thank you to the Missouri Legislature and Governor Kehoe for championing the needs of older Missourians! Your quick action on passing  the FY 2025 Supplemental Budget protects vital services that older adults rely on from the Area Agencies on Aging. Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts, for standing up for our seniors and making sure their needs are heard. Your Voice Matters! Your Voice was Heard!

By March 14, Congress must either pass a final FY 2025 spending package or another continuing resolution (CR) to avoid a government shutdown. Time is running out!

Urgent Action Needed to Protect Vital Services for Aging Missourians

A big thanks to the Missouri House Budget Committee for passing the FY 2025 Supplemental Budget out of committee this morning and on to the full House for a vote!

And a big thanks to all of you for reaching out to your legislators to keep this issue as a top priority.

Now it’s time to contact your House member in advance of the full House vote.

And – contact your Senator and especially members of Senate Appropriations – to ensure they appreciate the urgency of this need.

A crisis threatens essential services for 150,000 vulnerable older adults in Missouri who rely on Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs). Federally funded, AAAs provide critical support, including home-delivered meals, transportation, caregiver assistance, and in-home care, enabling seniors to age in place – a preference shared by the vast majority of Missourians.

Great News: Last night the US Senate passed the  Older Americans Act Reauthorization via unanimous consent. Thank you for your quick action contacting your Senators before Thanksgiving to ensure this happened!

We still need your help!

This legislation now moves to the House, and you can help by contacting your Congressman to urge quick passage before the end of the year. Time is of the essence!

Action Needed: Please contact your Representative and urge passage of the OAA reauthorization before the end of the year! 

Sample Language:

Call or email your US Representative.
Find your Representative Here

Please support the bipartisan Older Americans Act (OAA) Reauthorization Act of 2024 (S.4776), which passed the Senate on December 10.   The bipartisan Senate bill, amended with the House’s input, includes critical updates to the law that help older adults and their family caregivers. Because the Act expired in September, it’s imperative that Congress act quickly this year to ensure the continued health and well-being of the 11 million older adults and family caregivers who receive OAA services in communities across the country. Thank you for your quick action!

About the OAA

Signed into law in 1965, the Older Americans Act (OAA) was designed to address the wide-ranging needs of older adults. Funding for OAA programs and many other aging services needs to be approved by Congress and signed into law by the president.

The demand for OAA Services continues to grow!

As the number and diversity of older adults increases, so does the need for assistance and the challenge of providing person-centered services. Since the OAA was last renewed in 2020, we weathered a pandemic that led to more seniors seeking resources and support. Local innovations that helped community-based organizations navigate that crisis deserve to be made available nationwide.

The OAA is a keystone of federal aging policy, empowering older adults in our community to enjoy senior center activities, meal delivery services, health education programs, benefits counseling, caregiver support, job training and placement, elder rights protections, and more.

MIPPA Funding is at risk again! This would be detrimental to low-income older adults and adults with disabilities. Urge Congress to act before the year ends – before funding ends!

Thanks to your quick action, funding cuts to senior center and home delivered meals were NOT included in the Senate’s appropriation bill. That is great news, but we’re not done yet!

Urge Senators Hawley and Schmitt to protect Older Americans Act Funding! Missourians do not want to see cuts to senior centers or to home delivered meals for seniors!

Action Alert – MIPPA Funding is at-risk which could be detrimental to low-income older adults. Find out more and take action today!