Federal and state government support is channeled, to a large extent, through community organizations, which play a vital role in helping older adults to live independently and age in place. However, funds have not kept pace with the needs of the growing aging population. In light of tenuous funding, organizations supporting the aging are seeking supplemental resources for survival.
The federal funds allocation rose minimally from USD 1.80 billion in FY 2004 to USD 1.88 billion in FY 2014, while the population of people ages 65 and older grew by nearly 30 percent over the same period.
National Association of Area Agencies on Aging (n4a) and Meals on Wheels America
Recognizing the myriad risks associated with loneliness and social isolation, organizations such as the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging (n4a), which has 622 area agencies that provide a range of services such as meals, rides, home visits and care services, seek to mitigate the adverse impacts of isolation. One long-lasting and effective program is Meals on Wheels America, which runs through a network of 5,000 independently run local programs delivering daily meals to isolated and vulnerable older adults.