• Title I stipulates the mission of the OAA through its aforementioned 10 objectives.
• Title II pertains to AoA policies and procedures for the administration of the OAA (funding, planning, developing, coordinating and evaluating services) at the federal, state and area agency level. It authorizes the presidential appointment of the OAA head, known as the Assistant Secretary for Aging (currently Josefina Carbonell).
• Title III is the heart and soul of the OAA, providing major in-home and community-based services (1) through the establishment and operation of senior centers (2) and programs advancing nutrition (both congregate dining and home-delivered meals); transportation; in-home health and other supportive services, such as visiting nurse, homemaker and chore); preventive health services; and family caregiver support.
• Title IV involves research on older persons and in the field of aging, including grants for demonstration projects and initiatives related to intergenerational programs, developmental disabilities, housing and alternate funding sources.
• Title V originally dealt with training, but now covers senior employment (3). Unlike most OAA programs, senior employment is administered by the U.S. Dept. of Labor through the Senior Community Service Employment Program, and the eligibility starts at age 55 and older for those whose incomes are below 125 percent of the poverty level ($10,210 for an individual in 2007). The program targets older persons with poor employment prospects.
• Title VI, the portion of the OAA providing direct grants to the 243 Native American tribal units (4) (Native American versions of area agencies on aging), was added to the OAA via 1975 and 1978 amendments to the act, though funds were not appropriated until 1980. This title originated in response to concerns that Native Americans were underserved by traditional area agencies on aging. In 1987, further amendments broadened Title VI to serve Native Alaskans and Native Hawaiians. Roughly $32 million in OAA funds went to Native Americans, Alaskans and Hawaiians in 2007.
• Title VII formalized and consolidated components of four initiatives related to elder rights (5) and placed them under a new title in efforts to improve communication and more emphatically promote and protect the rights of older Americans. The four components are:
• ombudsman programs overseeing the rights and care of nursing home residents and others receiving long-term care services in their own homes and communities;
• programs to prevent abuse, neglect and financial exploitation of older persons;
• elder rights outreach, promoting the education of older persons and those caring for them on rights guaranteed in nursing home residents bill of rights and other federal and state regulations protecting older persons; and
• benefits outreach and counseling regarding Medicare, Medicaid, pensions and other public benefits and assistance programs that may help older persons.

(1) AoA Services for Seniors: http:// www.aoa.gov/eldfam/Service_Options/Service_Options.asp

(2) Older Americans Act: Multipurpose Senior Centers: www.access.gpo.gov/uscode/title42/chapter35_subchapterv_.html

(3) AoA: Senior Community Service Employment Program: www.access.gpo.gov/uscode/title42/chapter35_subchapterv_.html

and U.S. Dept. of Labor - Senior Community Service Employment Program : www.access.gpo.gov/uscode/title42/chapter35_subchapterv_.html

(4) AoA: Older Americans Act: Grants to Native Americans: www.access.gpo.gov/uscode/title42/chapter35_subchapterx_.html

(5) AoA: Older Americans Act: Allottments for Vulnerable Elder Rights Program Activities: www.access.gpo.gov/uscode/title42/chapter35_subchapterx_.html

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