tion and have been constructive in working with the departments at the point of implementation. We have had a very wonderful collaboration as between the department of social welfare, which is the agency of prime responsibility, of course, and our California State Public Health Department, which has worked and is working with social welfare on a contract basis at the point of setting up standards and implementing the licensing and the inspection aspects. And there has been a-I think a minimum resistance at the point of some of the people who might have been expected to have questions; we have in this State, hundreds, maybe thousands of nursing homes, don't you know, and hospitals that are affected, with all kinds of price ranges, and various physical facilities, and these have all had the problems involved in bringing them into line, don't you know, with the requirements of the program that have had to be faced.

There have been some problems that have caused difficulty, but these are being overcome in a general way, if I may answer your question, in a general way, it seems to us that this great program is off the ground and it is away in a satisfactory way.

Does that help you any?

Mr. O'HARA. Yes; thank you. I will also ask the representatives of the departments concerned.

Mr. LEASE. That's right, because they can get right down to the A B C's of the thing.

Mr. O'HARA. The bills before the subcommittee also propose a program of grants to communities. Would you care to discuss your views with regard to this matter, or would you prefer that we

Mr. LEASK. I would suggest you take it up with the people involved.

Mr. O'HARA. Thank you very much, Mr. Leask, for your testimony and your cooperation. I am sure we shall follow the progress of your program very closely. If we can be of any assistance to you, we shall be happy to do so.

Mr. LEASK. I hope you will, and, on behalf of the Governor, I want to express his appreciation and my appreciation to you for coming into our State, and to assure you that we will be glad to do anything and everything to help you expedite your business while you are here, or after you go home.

Mr. O'HARA. The next scheduled witness is Mrs. A. M. G. Russell, the chairman of the citizens' advisory committee on aging. Mrs. Russell, if you will identify yourself to the reporter, you may proceed in whatever manner you wish.

STATEMENT OF MRS. A. M. G. RUSSELL, CHAIRMAN, CITIZENS' ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON AGING, STATE OF CALIFORNIA

Mrs. RUSSELL. I am Mrs. A. M. G. Russell, and I am chairman of the Citizens' Advisory Committee on Aging of the State of California. Mr. Chairman, I am very, very happy in having this opportunity of reporting to you today. We are very happy to have you in California.

The Citizens' Advisory Committee on Aging of the State of California was established by legislative action of 1955 and 1956, and resulted from recommendations of a statewide conference on aging held in Sacramento in 1951. The committee is made up of 12 members:

8 are citizen members selected by the Governor on the basis of their demonstrated interest in the problems of the aging, and 4 are legislators, 2 from each chamber of the State legislature. They are appointed by their respective houses and constitute an interim legislative committee on aging.

The citizens advisory committee's primary function has been to study the problems of the aged and aging in California and to advise the Governor on action needed to solve these problems. The California plan of operation has been based on the cooperation between State government and its citizens. We have believed that many of the problems and needs of older persons must be met in the local communities in which they live. In those areas of life in which this is not possible, we know that there must be clear recognition of the responsibility of State and Federal Governments.

In its study of problems and needs of older persons, the Governor's committee on aging has had several approaches. One of major importance has involved hearings on such areas of concern as housing, employment, income, maintenance, education, recreation, and most recently, auditory loss among older persons. Such hearings, which are aimed primarily at fact finding, have brought to the committee the thinking of experts in the field, as well as expressions of concern and delineation of unmet needs by older persons. The findings of such hearings are utilized in making recommendations to the Governor for action in those areas in which State government must take leadership.

The citizens' advisory committee on aging, as it works to develop and maintain close relationships with local communities and to insure a continuing understanding of interests and desires of local groups, uses various approaches. The committee holds some of its regular meetings in smaller cities and towns and, as a whole, has begun a series of meetings in other than the major metropolitan centers, where it can meet with the local committees on aging, retired persons and other community representatives and can reflect their thinking in its recommendations.

Another function of the committee is assistance and guidance by provision of consultation to the communities of the State in development of local programs to meet the needs of their senior citizens. All of the members of the committee are active in their local communities and work with a wide variety of local, regional, and statewide organizations having concern for older persons. We recognize that there is a wide range of possible emphasis of program. No single pattern can fit our varied local situations and no blueprints are drawn in the State capitol.

Responsibilities of the committee include cooperation with the pertinent department and agencies of State government to the end that resources of the State shall be used as effectively and efficiently as possible in behalf of the senior citizens of California.

The citizens' advisory committee and its staff have a close working relationship with the interdepartmental committee on the problems of the aging, which is composed of representatives of State departments having responsibility for the various aspects of the well-being of older persons. In addition to relating to the interdepartmental committee, there are ongoing working relationships with the indi

vidual departments carrying program responsibility of some type for older persons.

Its further function, as established by legislative action, is to act as a clearinghouse and information center on all aspects of aging. Information is made available to State and local public agencies, voluntary organizations, churches, industry, labor, and all other interested persons and organizations. It has served as a depository and distribution center for much of the valuable material developed by the Federal Government before and following the White House Conference on Aging. In exchange with other States' governmental agencies concerned with older persons, it receives information regarding programs of their services for older persons throughout the Nation and from many foreign countries. It publishes a newsletter, Maturity, which provides information regarding State and Federal programs of interest to older persons, reports of local activities, and other information regarding aging.

ORGANIZATIONS IN CALIFORNIA

In addition to the governmental agencies concerned with the problems and needs of older persons, the Citizens' Advisory Committee on Aging is keenly aware of the programs and organizations developed by older people themselves and other community persons. In the year and a half before the White House Conference on Aging and the Governor's conference, there were approximately 40 local conferences. As one phase of preparation of the White House Conference on Aging, a directory for community leisure-time activities for older people in the State of California was developed by a survey, and about 350 local organizations of older persons were listed. We felt this represented about 9 percent of the available older people of California. It is now estimated that double that number are functioning in the various communities of California. These clubs and groups of older persons are sponsored by a wide range of organizations and agencies, including recreation departments, service clubs, and churches. In many cases, they function as independent senior clubs. The great majority of the senior groups in California are incorporated as nonprofit, nonpolitical organizations. Increasingly, these clubs are being known as organizations centered about the concept of service to their communities. In the 1960 study of leisure-time activity programs in California, nearly 100 different types of service projects were carried on by the clubs.

FEDERAL-STATE RELATIONSHIPS-FEDERAL LEADERSHIP IN CALIFORNIA

During the preparation for the White House Conference for which this committee had primary responsibility in California, we learned to appreciate deeply the value of leadership at a Federal level. We have valued the quality of leadership at a Federal level. We have valued the quality of leadership provided by the Federal Government through the several departments and agencies having concern for older perWe found particularly important the effective services made available by the field staff of the White House Conference on Aging. The materials, such as the depth studies which were published by the Federal Government as part of the preparation for a followup of the White House Conference on Aging, have been invaluable. Our only

sons.

regret has been that there were not more materials and more time of Federal staff available to us.

It is on the basis of our already rich experience in working with Federal leadership that we urge support of the concept of a strength ened and expanded Federal program on aging. Both funds and leadership need to be provided. These have proved to be necessary in such areas as income, housing, health, and research. The expansion and coordination of service including information and materials emanating from the various Federal departments would be most meaningful. One of the major concerns has been what we have seen as the need for greater coordination and communication among the various Federal programs so that there may be proper emphasis on the needs of older people and effective services may be provided. We should like to go on record as recommending support of the concept of strengthening and expanding interdepartmental action in the field of aging on the part of the Federal Government.

Later today you will hear, in considerable detail, about California's program of community services for older persons, resulting from legislation of the last session of the legislature. This grant program providing $150,000, to be matched at a local level by communities developing projects for older persons, has been a great stimulant to increasing community responsibility and action. We hope that there will be Federal legislation enacted to provide a grant program to provide for expansion of services, planning, and development of facilities for older persons in the States and their communities. Here in California where one-twelfth of the Nation's population over 65 years of age now lives, we recognize the need for the increased stimulation that a grant program provides. Successful demonstration of program and activities at a local level engenders more program and activities. We believe the "pump-priming" aspect of a program of such a nature of primary importance.

In California we recognize our population of older people to be an asset rather than the liability and the burden they are too often considered. The citizen's advisory committee on aging believes the older people in this State and across the Nation represent massive reservoir, frequently untapped, of knowledges, skills, and abilities. Our older citizens offers a service potential in community life we cannot afford to ignore. Far more needs to be done, however, to develop channels in which they can participate in a positive and creative fashion.

Community planning, further research, and expansion of facilities. which would result from grant programs available to States and communities would afford means by which the contributions of our older people could be more effectively mobilized and made available.

Thank you.

Mr. O'HARA. Thank you, Mrs. Russell. I am impressed by the review you and Mr. Leask have given of the magnificent activities California has undertaken in regard to the aging. I was interested particularly in the grant program the State has established. You indicated a later witness would describe the grant program in more detail, but I wondered if you could give us an evaluation of the impact this has had upon programs for the aging in California. As you know, we are considering proposals for a system of Federal matching grants to assist in the development of community, public, and private nonprofit programs for the aged.

Mrs. RUSSELL. We feel that this local grant program has provided tremendous stimulation to our communities to provide programs of various types for the older person within the community and we feel that there will be cooperation and cooperation to the extent that we will expand services to older people a great deal. We feel it is a very fine program.

Mr. O'HARA. You have discussed expansion and coordination of activities by public and private agencies at different levels of government. For the purpose of emphasis, however, would you say the problem of coordinating the activities of the various agencies is one of the most important needs?

Mrs. RUSSELL. Yes. I think very obviously the cooperation and coordination are two very great needs, certainly in California. Our departments are doing a very fine job within the departments in programs for older persons, but it is the cooperation between the departments which is making them thoroughly effective, I believe.

Mr. O'HARA. Thank you.

Mr. Giaimo?

Mr. GIAIMO. I was going to ask you whether or not there would be a need for Federal participation, but I must say that your testimony sets forth the necessity for Federal participation with great clarity, and I am happy it is a part of the record.

Let me ask you this: California is one of the leaders in this field, without any doubt, and it seems to be doing very well. Do you feel that California particularly would need this Federal assistance and coordination?

Mrs. RUSSELL. I think just by the very fact of our great numbers and the changes which are taking place within our State, I point out the fact that we need to continue to add to our programs in this field.

There is a great deal yet to be learned, and I think with stimulation, with help from the Federal Government, that a great deal can be done. Mr. GIAIMO. I see. I don't mean to suggest that California be

cut out.

Mrs. RUSSELL. We see that you don't, believe me.

Mr. GIAIMO. But along the lines, would a Federal program be more advantageous to some of the States that haven't been doing as much as the State of California?

Mrs. RUSSELL. I think this was pretty well brought out by the White House Conference on Grants to the Various States and their participation in the Conference for a period of time after which time the action was more or less retarded, and I think that this obviously would help a great many States. California will go ahead, certainly.

Mr. GIAIMO. I would like to ask you one more question. Will you give us your opinion as to whether or not a Federal agency, if there is one to be set up, whether it should be part of HEW or should it be a separate agency.

Mrs. RUSSELL. That's a very direct question. I think I have pretty well stated my feelings, our feelings, within the testimony, that we do feel that there needs to be consideration of strengthening of some kind of a department or agency within the Federal Government. I do not feel that we can possibly dictate what that should be, but rather that it should be based on the evidence that you get through your hearings.

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