Mr. Speaker. today I have introduced legislation which will amend the Older Americans Act of 1965 to include older Americans who have been excluded from outreach services because they do not speak English. Specifically. we are talking about more than 3 million people who are foreign born and past the age of 65. These languagedisabled elderly cannot communicate with the providers of services. and therefore very often go without them. Services such as nutrition. housing. transportation. health and social services are vital and necessary. especially for the elderly. For the most part. these are people who have emigrated from Europe and Asia many years ago. and still speak their native tongues although most of them are American citizens. This bill will amend the Older Americans Act of 1965 to provide assurances that if a substantial number of the older Americans residing in any planning and service area in the State are of limited Englishspeaking ability. then the State will require the area agency on aging for each planning and service area to: First. deliver outreach services by workers who are fluent in the language spoken by a predominant number of such people. Second. to designate an individual employed by the area agency on aging on a full time basis whose responsibilities will include appropriate counseling assistance be made available to these people and to assist them in receiving and participating in programs provided under the Older Americans Act.
Keywords matched
foreign born emigrated