To amend the Older Americans Act of 1965 to include screening for loneliness and coordination of supportive services and health care to address the negative health effects of loneliness, to require a report on loneliness, and for other purposes.
About This Bill
Committee
Latest Action · August 20, 2024
Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.
The SENIOR Act amends the Older Americans Act of 1965 to address loneliness among seniors by requiring health and social service programs to screen older adults for loneliness alongside existing social isolation assessments. The legislation directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to prepare comprehensive reports examining whether current aging programs adequately address loneliness, including its prevalence across different areas, its physical and mental health effects, and the role of preventive services in combating it. The bill also requires the Secretary to evaluate how strong family connections across generations may help reduce loneliness in older individuals and to recommend new policies that strengthen intergenerational family bonds. An interim status report is due within two years of enactment, with a final comprehensive report required within five years. The bill does not specify new funding levels but directs existing resources under the Older Americans Act to incorporate loneliness screening and coordination into their support services for seniors identified as having the greatest social needs.
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