Long-Term Care Ombudsman Programs Final Rule is Now Effective The Long-Term Care Ombudsman Programs final rule became effective on July 1, 2016.   A culmination of several years of collaborative work with states and other partners, this rule guides implementation of the portions of the Older Americans Act governing grants to states for operation of Long-Term Care Ombudsman programs. The rule addresses:

Seventeen years ago today, the Supreme Court decided in Olmstead v. L.C. (Olmstead) that under the Americans with Disabilities Act, people with disabilities cannot be unnecessarily segregated and must receive services in the most integrated setting possible. This landmark decision is at the core of ACL’s mission and has caused a shift in funding, policy, and attitudes toward community living that has improved the quality of countless lives of people with disabilities and older adults.

The Olmstead Decision Seventeen years ago, on June 22, 1999, the Supreme Court decided in Olmstead v. L.C. (Olmstead) that under the Americans with Disabilities Act, people with disabilities cannot be unnecessarily segregated and must receive services in the most integrated setting possible.

Today marks the 17th anniversary of a landmark Supreme Court decision. In Olmstead v. L.C. the Court ruled that people who need assistance with activities of daily living such as eating, bathing, dressing and walking cannot be unnecessarily segregated. They must receive services in the most integrated setting possible. This decision, based on the Americans with Disabilities Act, has great implications for older adults.

Home and community-based services (HCBS) provide opportunities for individuals with disabilities and older adults to receive services in their own home or community. On January 16, 2014, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services published a final rule that sets forth new requirements for states using Medicaid funds to pay for HCBS, supports enhanced quality in HCBS programs, and adds protections for individuals receiving these services.

Through the Looking Glass (TLG) is a nationally recognized center that has pioneered research, training, and services for parents with diverse disabilities and their families. Advancing the rights of parents with disabilities is included in the work of many programs within ACL, and TLG is one example. As many prepare to celebrate Father’s Day this weekend, it is important to remember people with disabilities still often face profound familial, legal, medical and societal barriers to parenthood.

As we mark World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) today, I find myself reflecting on our amazing accomplishments these past several years, particularly because this is the last WEAAD I will commemorate in my capacity as Assistant Secretary for Aging. My national “perch” allows me to see the peaks and valleys on our collective journey towards elder justice. In the past seven years, we have had many high points and we’ve made much progress along the road. I want to celebrate that progress with all of you.

President Obama signed the Older Americans Act Reauthorization Act of 2016 into law today, reaffirming our nation’s commitment to the health and well-being of older adults. Earlier this year, the President called on Congress to reauthorize this important legislation as part of his remarks at the White House Conference on Aging.