This legislation amends the Older Americans Act of 1965 to explicitly incorporate loneliness as a factor for screening and coordinating supportive services and health care for older individuals. This expansion ensures that programs under the Act will directly address the negative health effects associated with loneliness, alongside social isolation. A key provision mandates the Secretary to prepare a comprehensive report on loneliness among older individuals. This report will evaluate existing programs, assess the prevalence and health effects of loneliness, and examine the role of preventive measures, public awareness, and the relationship between strong multigenerational family units . It will also identify whether programs support local community projects and outreach for screening, providing recommendations for reducing loneliness and fostering intergenerational connections, with an interim report due in two years and a final report within five years of enactment.
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Health
AgingCommunity life and organizationCongressional oversightGovernment studies and investigationsHealth promotion and preventive careMental health
SENIOR Act
USA119th CongressS-473| Senate
| Updated: 2/6/2025
This legislation amends the Older Americans Act of 1965 to explicitly incorporate loneliness as a factor for screening and coordinating supportive services and health care for older individuals. This expansion ensures that programs under the Act will directly address the negative health effects associated with loneliness, alongside social isolation. A key provision mandates the Secretary to prepare a comprehensive report on loneliness among older individuals. This report will evaluate existing programs, assess the prevalence and health effects of loneliness, and examine the role of preventive measures, public awareness, and the relationship between strong multigenerational family units . It will also identify whether programs support local community projects and outreach for screening, providing recommendations for reducing loneliness and fostering intergenerational connections, with an interim report due in two years and a final report within five years of enactment.