Older Americans Act

Title VII, Vulnerable Elder Rights Protection, and
Title II, Elder Abuse Prevention and Services

For nearly forty years, the Older Americans Act has expressed the nation's commitment to protecting vulnerable older Americans at risk.

In 1992, Congress created and funded a new Title VII, Chapter 3 for prevention of abuse, neglect, and exploitation.  Title VII Vulnerable Elder Rights Protection also includes provisions for long-term care ombudsman programs and state legal assistance development.

In 2000, provisions were added to Title VII to encourage states to foster greater coordination with law enforcement and the courts.

In the 2006 amendments to the Older Americans Act, new language was added to Title II and Title VII emphasizing multi-disciplinary and collaborative approaches to addressing elder mistreatment when developing programs and long-term strategic plans for elder justice activities.  New language in Title VII also expands the options for States and tribal organizations to use some portion of the Title VII allotments for detection, assessment, intervention in, investigation of, and response to elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation, in addition to prevention and treatment.  And, for the first time, “elder justice” and “self-neglect” are defined in the OAA.

As the years have gone by, Title VII Vulnerable Elder Rights Protection has proven instrumental in promoting public education and interagency coordination to address elder abuse.  The Long-Term Care Ombudsman program is also established in title VII.  Furthermore, Title VII includes a provision for a legal services developer in each state to serve as a focal point at the state level for all aspects relating to coordinating the provision of legal services for the elderly.

To read more about Title II, Title VII, and other parts of the Older Americans Act, please visit: http://aoa.gov/AoARoot/AoA_Programs/OAA/index.aspx .