Introduction
Policy analysis is a profound opportunity that experts use to evaluate the ethics and rationality of a policy. The process is beyond making final decisions, but rather the impact of enacting a reform on the larger community. The persons of interest and opponents also benefit from the procedure because their oversight role results in quality work, planning, public communication, and budgeting. Advocacy groups play a critical role in the policy analysis as they write reports about the reform. The goal is to bring scientific attention to the problem to bring valuable information to policymakers and citizens. The essay is a policy analysis of the OAA Act following the steps of analysis.
Policy Brief
The Older Americans Act (OAA) is a policy that seeks to provide older people with a decent living. The US government amended in 1965 as President Johnson’s part of the “Great Society” initiative in a bid that Americans live at home with dignity for as long as they live. The program runs in 56 state units for the aging and about 600 partners under Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs), with more than 270 Native American Aging programs and 20,000 service providers (USAging, 2023). OAA and AAA work together to achieve flexibility in responding to the needs of the local people (USAging, 2023). OAA programs facilitate care of the needs of people ages 60 years and above with services in nutrition, family caregivers, housing, and protection from abuse and exploitation. OAA provides employment opportunities for the aged community of 55 years and older (Congressional et al., 2023). The OAA has five titles that include policy objectives. Title I defines policy objectives, Title II explains the role of the executive, Title III contains information on the authorization of grants to states and locals to support nutrition services, Title IV permits grants for training, research, and administration, Title V ensures the provision of assistance to state and national organizations in a bid to promote opportunities for community services for older people from low-income families, Title VI supports nutritional benefits. Title VII facilitates protection services (Congressional et al.,2023). The analysis of this policy sheds light on the problem that the policy tries to address through the steps of evaluation of the policy.
Analysis
Policy analysis is an assessment of the alternative options and provision of evidence for and against each of the provided options. The objective is to inform the process of public debate and decisions related to the reform (Kraft & Furlong, 2019). Public issues are multifaceted, and persons of interest tend to disagree on various aspects that eventually shape the policy. The significant steps of policy analysis include defining and analysing the problem, constructing alternatives, choosing alternative criteria, assessing alternatives, and drawing conclusions (Kraft & Furlong, 2019). The stages ensure that one comprehends the reasons for the policy and factors that promote success in achieving the implementation.
Definition of the Problem
The ageing population is on the rise, and the government understands the need to develop programs to cater to the challenges related to older people. According to Caplan (2023), the US elderly population shows an upward trend as people aged 65 represent the largest number per the 2020 Census. The trend indicates the government expects some challenges related to ageing. Kenan Institute (2017) writes that older adults always prefer to stay at home instead of institutions, which translates to modifying their environment to fit the needs to prevent hazards like accidental falls and exposure to environmental hazards. AOO Title VII ensures that elderly persons are protected from aspects that could threaten their lives (Congressional et al., 2023). OAA promotes urgent action on issues affecting older people and acknowledges their rights while recognizing the current growth rate in the elderly population. The goal is to respond appropriately to the multi-disciplinary needs of the elderly population by highlighting policies that specifically address the problems (Kenan Institute, 2017).
Assemble Evidence
Subsequently, the policy for older people promotes stakeholder engagement through consultations. The input from interested partners enhances proper decision processes through monitoring and reporting progress in addressing issues affecting older adults. Baker-Schena (2016) argues that patients are not the only people aging but also ophthalmologists and suggests that OAA in different states could consider exploring more opportunities for retiring populations. Policy action ensures that people feel safe to age because the government protects their rights and decency.
OAA reduces the worry that the aging population has about getting old. Congressional Research Services (2023) assert that Title II contains information on the administration of aging, citing that the Administration of Aging is the chief federal agency that allocates funds under OAA statutory for care management, nutrition, home and community services, disease prevention, and protection of rights. OAA oversees the funds that states transfer to provide caregiver support for older adults at their residence. Title III services are available for individuals over 60 years who require greater social needs, like persons from low-income families, those with limited English literacy, and those living in rural areas (Congressional et al., 2023). The OAA allows the clients to make contributions and provide feedback on the issues that affect them daily, and this provides guidance on best practices to use to shape the policy to increase opportunities in the future.
Construction of Alternatives
Once policymakers comprehend the problem, they start thinking about alternative ways to handle the policy. It is the significant stage of analysis and establishing the best ways to solve problems (Kraft & Furlong, 2019). Some nitiatives could be applied to address the issues related to older adults. Walsh et al. (2021) posit that older people are likely to face social exclusion as family members could fail to provide care due to varying life priorities. OAA was launched decades ago, and it is prudent to check the current trends in policies related to aging. Scott (2020) points out the new frontiers in ageing by providing interesting statistics on the number of ageing communities, which is expected to be 19 million by 2100. The trend demonstrates that weak economic growth is possible, and governments are likely to feel the financial strain of caring for older adults. However, since the goal is to achieve longevity, the primary priorities include strategies for affording the needs of an aging society and restructuring behavior.
Longer life translates to more effort from the government. According to Scott (2020), the key areas include nutrition, behavior, literacy, medical practice, and the environment. The aspects promote the discussion on the aging agenda and enable policymakers to comprehend and appreciate possible changes to structure and improve policies on aging. For instance, it is paramount to support older workers by enabling them to remain productive. Scott (2020) notes that a high labor force engagement among older adults greatly depends on available pension plans and technological advancements that make work easier, such as robotics and artificial intelligence.
Moreover, the disease burden in the current world shows an upward trend. Baker-Schena (2016) suggests a shift to preventive health and including chronic illnesses as part of primary care through public education on behavior change toward adopting healthier diets. The artificial technology will help a great deal in dealing with non-communicable diseases. The objective is to establish reasons for ageing and develop proper treatments that address the current disease changes. Scott (2020) advocates for support of diversity in that citizens beyond the age of 65 years should have a pension plan even for persons who are not working for the state, citing that using the chronological age factor is weak as it is not an efficient indicator for individual needs and capabilities. A rational pension plan for people of all works of life prevents any financial strain related to the aging community.
Selecting a Criteria
The government enacts various policies to address issues that affect people in society. Kraft and Furlong (2019) claim that choosing an alternative involves setting goals, determining efficiency, engaging the community, and processing values. The older generation requires efficiency in health services. Kim et al. (2020) assert that the latest trends in healthcare include adopting programs that increase efficiency in addressing the medical needs of the people through performance and appraisal of various sectors of the economy. Besides, investing in health financing, infrastructure, and governance to enhance universal coverage (Kim et al., 2020). The attempt to improve the efficiency of policies in health care and the welfare of older people demands a systematic evaluation of programs and outcomes. OAA efficiently promotes health, independence, and long life, as stated in Title IV (Congressional et al., 2023). As a result, the US government undertakes consistent research to understand better strategies for improving access to healthcare services and enhancing the efficiency of self-management of chronic diseases.
Aside from the efficiency of policies in healthcare, it is prudent to select policies that promote a successful ageing process. The government fulfils aging through minimising losses, social participation, and improving their abilities. Though people age, they still require meaningful engagement to reduce the negative effects of health deterioration and disabilities. The aging policies should optimize involvement in productive activities that promote an individual’s autonomy. Older people’s participation in economic activities enables them to see the value of life.
Evaluation of Outcomes
Policy analysis includes evaluation of other reforms and the impact on the future of the target clients. Kraft and Furlong (2019) argue that evaluating the results includes assessing the current procedures. The Older Americans Act (OAA) addresses the critical aspects of care for older adults, but there are some challenges related to the policy. According to Menne (2022), the local and federal states need to provide data related to the programs, making it difficult for policymakers to monitor the use of funds and provide any reviews. The pressure to collect and present data is to measure performance and determine the success of the policy. The program would work better if OAA coordinated with research organizations, which would assess the programs under the policy and future interventions (Menne, 2022). An increase in information availability helps address the issues affecting aging. AOO could achieve better results by including a section of research and accumulating data on the performance of various programs to promote transparency.
Confront the Tradeoffs
An expansion of AOO would ensure that the government increases funds for primary care services. The number of ageing people over 65 years and above is likely to increase in the future. For this reason, it is prudent to expand the services in primary care (Baker-Schena, 2016). AOO could consider expansion to an evidence-based procedure to include research in an attempt to improve access and affordability of care. The move would ensure an improvement in wellness through the prevention of the onset of diseases through screening. Kujundžić Tiljak et al. (2020) assert that the ageing population is likely to double in the next 50 years, citing the relevance of the European 2020 Strategy for Smart, Sustainable, and Inclusive Growth that seeks to alleviate poverty among the actively ageing population. The government could consider an increase in funds for AOO to increase the efficiency of the policy. The rationale is that the ageing population in the US still faces immense economic challenges.
Stop, Focus, Narrow, Deepen,
Decide
The step involves an expansion of alternatives and policy elements. AOO is a policy established in 1965, and it requires improvements to make sense in the present owing to changes in issues related to ageing. AOO addresses issues of housing, but there are many homeless aging populations (Li et al., 2021). The improvement of living conditions could reduce the strain on ageing. Herbert and Molinsky (2019) posit that supportive services such as group living could increase interactions as compared to a homebound strategy that increases stress and disabilities. The rationale is that some homes do not have the support for positive living for an aging individual.
Tell Your Story
AOO provides immense opportunities for the aging population to achieve access to health nutrition, grants for research, and part-time opportunities. The policy shows a clear understanding of issues that affect the aging people. However, the problems still need to be solved, indicating a need to revamp the policy to meet the current needs of aging people. Title VII promotes opportunities for the aging, but while this is a great idea, there are individuals who have mobility issues owing to a lack of wheelchairs and accommodation (Herbert & Molinsky, 2019). Equally, it is prudent to consider paid care as the present aging population continues to face immense challenges linked to chronic illnesses and functional limitations.
Conclusion
AOO is a great policy designed to address the imminent issues related to the aging population. The policy caters to critical aspects of care, access to opportunities, and better living conditions. On the other hand, accountability and reporting remain major problems despite commitment to research and data collection. AOO could work with other firms that provide data associated with the aging population to achieve relevance on issues affecting the current and arising issues of the future. Older adults prefer to stay at home, but they may not access appropriate care, and it is prudent that the government modify its policy to meet financial and advisory support needs. It is paramount to coordinate services with service organizations interested in welfare for older adults to create individualized health plans.
References
Baker-Schena, L. (2016). The aging patient.
Caplan, Z. (2023). The U.S Older population grew from 2010 to 2020 at the fastest rate since 1880 to 1890. United States Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov/library/stories/2023/05/2020-census-united-states-older-population-grew.html
Conboy, P. (2021). Older-age exclusion and the 2030 agenda for sustainable development. Social Exclusion in Later Life: Interdisciplinary and Policy Perspectives, 359-372. https://library.oapen.org/bitstream/handle/20.500.12657/48209/9783030514068.pdf?sequence=1#page=366
Congressional Research Services. (2023). Older Americans Act: Overview and funding. https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/R/R43414
Herbert, C., & Molinsky, J. H. (2019). What can be done to support older adults better to age successfully in their homes and communities? Health Affairs, 38(5), 860-864. https://www.healthaffairs.org/doi/10.1377/hlthaff.2019.00203
https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/fandd/issues/2020/03/the-future-of-aging-guide-for-policymakers-scott
Kenan Institute. (2017). Older adults and the challenges of aging in place. AgingInPlaceWhitePaper_09212017
Kim, Y., Park, M. J., & Atukeren, E. (2020). Healthcare and welfare policy efficiency in 34 developing countries in Asia. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(13), 4617. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7369992/
Kraft, M. E., & Furlong, S. R. (2019). Public policy: Politics, analysis, and alternatives. Cq Press.
Kujundžić Tiljak, M., Reiner, Ž., & Klarica, M. (2020). Is there a better future for healthy aging? Croatian Medical Journal, 61(3), 75-78. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7230424/
Li, J., Goh, W., Jhanjhi, N. Z., Isa, F., & Balakrishnan, S. (2021). An empirical study on challenges faced by older people in care centres. EAI Endorsed Transactions on Pervasive Health and Technology, 7(28). https://eudl.eu/pdf/10.4108/eai.11-6-2021.170231
Lum, T., & Wong, HG. (2017). Social policies for aging. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/313155939_Social_Policies_for_Aging_Societies
Menne, H. (2022). Difficulties demonstrating the impact of AOO programming and glimmers of hope. American Society on Aging. https://generations.asaging.org/difficulties-demonstrating-impact-oaa-programs
Scott. A. (2020). The long, good life: Longer, more productive lives will mean big changes to the old rules of ageing. International Monetary Fund.
USAging. (2023). Older Americans Act. https://www.usaging.org/olderamericansact
Walsh, K., Scharf, T., Van Regenmortel, S., & Wanka, A. (2021). Social exclusion in later life: interdisciplinary and policy perspectives (p. 450). Springer Nature.
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