How to Implement the Older Americans Act

Older Americans Act Guidance

The guidance below was developed to support Older Americans Act implementation. Learn more about the OAA here. 

State Unit on Aging (SUA) Directors Letter #01-2025

SUA Directors Letter #01-2025 provides updated guidance and supersedes SUA Directors Letter #01-2021 and all previous program instructions (PIs) on the same subject issued by the Administration on Aging (AoA). This letter, along with the appendices, also provides SUAs with key reporting information (e.g., key due dates) and links to newly issued information collection items for AoA Formula Grant Program Management (Office of Management and Budget # 0985-0083), including:

• State Plan Guidance
• Corrective Action Plan template and instructions
• Various financial forms, including:
  
  • Certification of Maintenance of Effort for Title III Form & Instructions
  • Certification of Minimum Expenditures for Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program Form & Instructions
  • Transfers Form (new) & Instructions
  • Reallotment Form (new) & Instructions
  • Title III Supplemental Form to Standard Form (SF)-425 & Instructions

Guidance on Contracts and Commercial Relationships

This guidance on contracts and commercial relationships is intended to assist SUAs and area agencies on aging (AAAs) in streamlining existing processes and developing policies and procedures to implement section 212 of the OAA.

• AoA Informational Bulletin November 2024

OAA Program Guidance by Title

• Title III programs: 45 CFR Part 1321
• Title VI programs: 45 CFR Part 1322
• Title VII programs: 45 CFR Part 1324

Additional OAA Resources

See resources on prior OAA guidance issued below.

Guidance on Serving Holocaust Survivors

The 2016 reauthorization of the OAA included a provision that required the Assistant Secretary for Aging to issue guidance to states about serving Holocaust survivors, including promising practices for conducting outreach to that population.

AoA Program Instructions

Prior PI guidance issued by AoA has been incorporated, as needed, in current guidance and information collection items. Superseded PIs will be archived on https://acl.gov/about-acl/administration-aging-program-instructions. 

Back-to-Basics Webinar Series

ACL is hosting a Back-to-Basics (B2B) webinar series to promote prudent OAA stewardship practices and to support aging network entities in their implementation of the OAA. Watch this space for the next webinar or browse the archive of materials and check out future topics below.

Coming in 2025: B2B Webinars & Materials on Emergencies and Disasters, Conflicts of Interest, Long-Term Care Ombudsman, Legal Assistance and Defense Against Guardianship, and more!