March 9, 2022 Washington, DC — Statement from Katie Smith Sloan, president and CEO, LeadingAge, the association of nonprofit providers of aging services, on the omnibus fiscal year 2022 appropriations bill, released March 9, 2022: 

“We are thrilled to see Congress acknowledge and address the pressing needs of older adults and their families, specifically in housing and access to healthcare. These much-needed actions will have a profound impact.   

Even before COVID, our country’s supply of affordable housing for low income older adults was nowhere near sufficient. Demand is growing and waiting lists are long. More funding for the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly – the only program focused on meeting the unique needs of older adults with very low incomes – will dramatically increase supply. LeadingAge has advocated relentlessly for more funding. This bill is a tremendous win for older adults. It provides over $1 billion for the 202 program, a 21 percent increase compared to FY21 funding and the largest funding for new Section 202 homes since 2010. More affordable housing for low-income seniors cannot come soon enough.

The omnibus’ extension of telehealth waivers for 5 months after the COVID-19 emergency ends can help to ensure quality of life for millions of older adults who, due to transportation or other issues, rely on virtual visits with their health care providers. Telehealth, as we’ve seen throughout the pandemic, can mean the difference between life and death, particularly for older adults.” 

We represent more than 5,000 nonprofit aging services providers and other mission-minded organizations that touch millions of lives every day. Alongside our members and 38 state partners, we use applied research, advocacy, education, and community-building to make America a better place to grow old. Our membership, which now includes the providers of the Visiting Nurse Associations of America, encompasses the continuum of services for people as they age, including those with disabilities. We bring together the most inventive minds in the field to lead and innovate solutions that support older adults wherever they call home. For more information visit leadingage.org.