Age-friendly work aims to empower older adults to advocate for themselves.
In today’s tumultuous times – with the news of potential cuts to federally funded programs changing weekly and sometimes daily – it can be challenging to keep up with the latest developments, much less write your congresspeople and state lawmakers about them.
Fortunately, there are many nonpartisan and nonprofit entities that stay abreast of the latest budget proposals and the fast-moving policy and personnel changes in Washington so that older adults – as well as those who care for them – can be informed about the potential impact on their lives and their livelihood.
Organizations such as AARP, Center for Medicare Advocacy, Justice in Aging, and the National Council on Aging – just to name a few – offer fact sheets, guides and web pages that help the average person understand the potential trickle-down effect of the current administration’s pledge to dramatically reduce the size of the federal government.
These organizations sometimes pair those informational publications with advocacy tools that can make it easy to contact your elected official or sign onto a petition.
Here’s a look at some resources that can help older adults and age-friendly advocates keep abreast of the federal budget and policy issues that touch on many older adults’ lives.
Medicaid
Topping the list of concerns as the federal budget process kicks off in earnest this month is the prospect of dramatic cuts to Medicaid, the federal-state program that provides health care coverage to more than 86 million Americans, including funding the bulk of long-term care for people over age 65 and individuals with disabilities. In response to those concerns, more than 100 national organizations and scores of regional ones have joined together to form the Modern Medicaid Alliance. That organization’s Get Involved tab offers subscribers a chance to sign a petition and receive their newsletter.
One of the lead organizations trying to protect Medicaid is Justice in Aging, which has joined with Disability Rights New Jersey to chronicle the potential impact of federal Medicaid cuts in New Jersey by collaborating on this Medicaid Defense series, a collection of fact sheets, issue briefs, webinars, and template advocacy letters.
Older Americans Act Programs
Many older adults might not realize the extent to which local programs and services are funded by the Older Americans Act. The federal law was supposed to be reauthorized last year, in 2024, but instead may undergo dramatic restructuring and cuts. The National Council on Aging closely tracks OAA developments. This NCOA article details the impact of proposed budget cuts listed in the U.S. Health and Human Services department’s fiscal year 2026 budget. They include cutting the Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program, which works to safeguard the welfare of nursing home residents; the State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP), which provides free coverage-options counseling to Medicare beneficiaries; and Adult Protective Services, which intervenes in abuse and exploitation cases.
NCOA’s Action Center offers detailed summaries of the federal budget and legislative proposals that could profoundly change or limit local aging services programs. The council also has online messaging tools, such as this form to send to Congress in support of continued funding for the Older Americans Act.
Social Security
Staffing cuts and office closures at the Social Security Administration have many advocates concerned that new enrollees and those needing customer service assistance won’t be able to receive it in a timely fashion, potentially delaying receipt of their much-needed benefits. AARP offers a comprehensive Social Security information page as well this online form to join its advocacy campaign.
Medicare
“A cut to Medicaid is a cut to Medicare” is the new mantra of several organizations that assist and advocate on behalf of Medicare beneficiaries. Several of these groups have been trying to educate the populace about the ways in which Medicare beneficiaries could be harmed by cuts to Medicaid, which is the primary payer of nursing home services and home and community-based services and also pays the premiums of 1 out of every 6 Medicare beneficiaries.
This fact sheet and this issue brief were produced as a collaboration of Justice in Aging, Medicare Rights Center, the Center for Medicare Advocacy and Community Catalyst.
The Center for Medicare Advocacy also has a newsletter as does Medicare Rights Center, that seek to demystify Medicare and health-care related policy and legislation.
The Lifelong Strong New Jersey campaign has also produced an article, “Why Protecting Medicare and Medicaid Matters — Especially for New Jersey’s Older Adults.”
Economic Security
Food assistance, rental subsidies, help paying utility bills. These are among the safety-net programs funded by the federal government that may be facing cuts or elimination. Food assistance organizations are trying to educate the citizenry about the crucial need to maintain funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the Supplemental Social Services Block Grant (SSBG) program. Check out this letter from Meals on Wheels of America and this advocacy campaign of the Community Food Bank of New Jersey
Many older adults rely on rental assistance to afford to keep living independently, but the administration’s budget calls for substantial cuts to many of those subsidy programs. The non-partisan Center on Budget and Policy Priorities has produced this fact sheet outlining the impact of those rental assistance programs on older adults and other vulnerable populations. Another program at risk is Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), which helps older adults afford their high utility bills in winter months. The entire federal staff administering the program were laid off in April, and this article from New Jersey Policy Perspective outlines the potential impact in New Jersey.
Another important tool for all those looking to add their voices to the federal budget debate is this primer on the federal budget process and timeline from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, which outlines the steps the House, Senate and Administration must take to reach a budget reconciliation before the new fiscal year begins Oct. 1.
“Advocates at the local level should try to learn as much as they can about the federal government’s budget and legislative processes,” said Cathy Rowe, executive director of New Jersey Advocates for Aging Well, which helps lead the Age-Friendly North Jersey alliance. “If we want to make our communities and our state more supportive environments for older residents, then it’s imperative we understand how federal programs and policies can promote – or impede – that goal.”
“Informed advocates are the most effective advocates.”