The SENIOR Act would amend the Older Americans Act of 1965 to expand how loneliness is addressed in programs for older adults. Specifically, it adds loneliness to the factors that programs must screen for and coordinate around, alongside social isolation. The bill also requires the creation of a comprehensive report on loneliness—covering how well current programs address its health effects, geographic patterns, and the role of multigenerational families—and asks for recommendations to reduce loneliness and strengthen cross-generational connections. Interim and final reports are slated, with timelines of two years for an interim status update and five years for a final report. In short, the bill aims to institutionalize loneliness screening within federal aging programs, improve coordination of related services and health care, and produce a substantive assessment and policy recommendations on loneliness among older adults.
Key Points
- 1Adds loneliness to the screening and coordination requirements of Older Americans Act programs, inserting the term “loneliness” after “social isolation” wherever it appears.
- 2Requires the Secretary to prepare a report (under section 206(a) of the Older Americans Act) evaluating how programs funded by the Administration on Aging address loneliness, and to examine the relationship between multigenerational family strength and loneliness in older people.
- 3The report must assess:
- 4- prevalence of loneliness by geographic area,
- 5- negative physical and mental health effects linked to loneliness,
- 6- the effectiveness of preventive measures and services under the Act in addressing loneliness,
- 7- public awareness efforts about loneliness.
- 8The report should identify whether programs:
- 9- support local community projects that engage diverse sectors to reduce loneliness,
- 10- include outreach to screen older individuals for loneliness-related health effects,
- 11- maintain a focus on reducing loneliness’s health impacts.
- 12The report should include recommendations to reduce loneliness’s health effects and to promote strong, stable cross-generational connections.
- 13Requires an interim status report within 2 years and a final report within 5 years of enactment.
- 14Definitions for key terms (greatest social need, older individual, Secretary) reference their meanings in section 102 of the Older Americans Act.