The opinion article urges the US House of Representatives to pass the Senate’s bipartisan reauthorisation of the Older Americans Act. It argues that doing so would preserve and update programmes that help older people remain healthy, independent and connected in their communities, including meal delivery, transport and support for carers.

The Senate unanimously passed the four-year reauthorisation bill, S.2120, on 14 July, leaving House approval as the next step. The Act, originally enacted in 1965, has operated without reauthorisation since 2024 and supports an estimated 11 million older adults and family carers; advocates also call for increased funding, particularly for nutrition services.