THE WHITE HOUSE AT WORK



Friday, March 26, 1999

PRESIDENT CLINTON AND VICE PRESIDENT GORE:
PROTECTING OLDER AMERICANS, EXPANDING LONG-TERM CARE

We must give care to the caregivers to help Americans provide long-term care for aging and ailing loved ones -- the size of the senior boom demands it. The length of our lives makes it more important than ever.

Vice President Al Gore
March 26, 1999

Today, Vice President Al Gore travels to New Hampshire where he holds a forum on long-term care and announces that the Administration will ask Congress to reauthorize and improve the Older Americans Act (OAA), creating a new National Family Caregiving Support Program. The Vice President will also highlight other important parts of the Administration's long-term care initiative that provide support to Americans with long-term care needs or their caregivers.

Critical Support For Caregivers And Older Americans. The Clinton-Gore Administration proposal for reauthorizing and improving the Older Americans Act would, for the first time, create a National Family Caregiving Support Program that would provide critical assistance for 250,000 families who care for older relatives with chronic illnesses or disabilities by enabling states to:

Giving Older Americans Needed Services In Their Communities. The Older Americans Act also includes a number of critical programs for older Americans, including: home and community-based meals, rides for doctor or pharmacy visits, community service and assistance, protection against elder abuse, counseling, and help to address physical and emotional needs. In addition, daily activities in an estimated 2,500 senior centers and nearly 1,000 adult day care centers are provided by the Older Americans Act.

A Comprehensive Long-Term Care Agenda. The Vice President is urging Congress to pass other parts of the Administration's long-term care agenda, including:



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