16. (c1) How did you determine your priorities?

In the final analysis the States determined how to use the funds within the general guidelines set forth in 16 (a1). The Administration on Aging guidelines were designed to reflect what appeared to us to be significant opportunities for underpinning the programs designed to achieve the objectives of Title III.

16. (d1) Which of these, or other, priorities do you think are most important? Since the beginning of Fiscal Year 1975 all new Section 308 funds obligations have been and will be through the National Model Projects program and in accordance with the priorities already discussed (please see 16. (d') above). The funds which in 1974 were distributed to the States for specific State Model Projects in 1975 were allocated to the States within the general formula grants under Title III.

CLEARINGHOUSE FOR THE AGING

Q. 17. (a) Presently, do you consider the Clearinghouse to be fully operational? A. The Clearinghouse is currently operational, but not fully operational. The major thrust of the Clearinghouse over the past ten months has been an intensive effort to recruit staff. Staffing for the current Clearinghouse staffing pattern is virtually complete with only 2 positions remaining vacant. All of the key supervisory positions are now filled, and each of the 4 units which make up the Clearinghouse have begun operations. However, plans for the full implementation and objectives of the Clearinghouse have not yet been completely finalized pending the final report from a contract for a strategy evaluation of the Clearinghouse, which is currently underway. When the final report from the contractor is submitted in June 1975, we will have several alternative strategies to guide us in our final implementation plans for the Clearinghouse. The strategies will be developed from information gathered through personal interviews of over 300 persons connected with the field of aging who are potential users of Clearinghouse services. When the results of the survey are complete we will have the advantage of being able to make rational choices on Clearinghouse services in a phased and orderly manner based upon the perceived needs and expert advise of a competent representative sample of potential users of Clearinghouse services. This should also assure us of an absolute minimum of possible duplication and overlap with other information and data centers.

(b) Can you tell us some of the actual outputs to date of the Celaringhouse for the Aging?

During the past year the Public Inquiries and Publications Distribution Division of the Clearinghouse has upon request distributed over 485,000 publications, replied to over 1,600 written communications and responded to more than 3,300 telephone inquiries. To expedite responses to both telephone and written inquiries the staff also prepared 4 fact sheets describing AoA programs. The Public Information Division published 8 issues of the news magazine Aging, as well as providing technical assistance upon request to the TV and news media. In association with WRC-TV the Public Information staff produced a series of ten television programs on aging. A color and sound film, "Don't Stop the Music" was also produced. The film challenges the negative stereotype of older people by showing them in effective and creative roles. Prints of the film were distributed to State Agencies on Aging.

Following is a sample of some of the major publications printed and distributed by the Public Information Division during the past year.

Older Americans Are a National Resources, a booklet describing employment and volunteer opportunities for older Americans in Federally sponsored programs.

Reaching Out and Information Giving and Referral, the second and third of a series of manuals on operating an information and referral service, prepared under a Sttaewide demonstration project funded by the Administration on Aging. Packaging for Home Delivered Meals, Nutrition and Aging: A Selected Annotated Biblography; and Home Delivered Meals: A Selected Annotated Bibliography, three publications prepared by nutrition research and demonstration projects funded by the Administration on Aging.

Para Encountrar el Camino a Los Servicios en Su Communicad, a Spanish translation of To Find The Way to Services in your Community, which was written for older people to help them take advantage of services and opportunities available under Federal, State and local programs.

Older Americans and Community Colleges: An Overview, a directory of community colleges with programs in the field of aging prepared by the American Association of Community and Junior Colleges as part of a training project funded by the Administration on Aging.

The Information and Referral Policy Division produced several important documents during the past year. A Program Instruction was prepared and issued which established the minimum requirements for I&R Services to be met by State and Area Agencies by June 30, 1975. An Information Memorandum was also issued which identified the components of a comprehensive information and referral system. Intra and Interdepartmental agreements were drafted and agreed to for cooperative action between agencies of the Federal Government in support of I&R services at the State and local level. In addition, support of I&R services for older persons by the Federal Executive Boards was encouraged. Continuing technical assistance, including a contract to provide training to State agency staff was provided to assist State and local agencies in their planning and implementation of I&R services. Several research grants and contracts were monitored. The research will provide the information necessary to provide quality I&R services to those older people in need of such services.

The Data Analysis and Dissemination Division continued publication of important demographic data and included expanded content in several new issues of the series titled, Facts and Figures on Older Americans. This effort was augmented by the issuance of new material in the Statistical Memoranda series. Maintenance of the State Data Books was also continued. A major task of building a data base of statistical information on the older population was undertaken through the contract mechanism. Included in the contract is development of a Thesaurus of terms which will provide a standard vocabulary for use by the field of aging in connection with the collection, storage, and retrieval of information. Staff also, upon request, provided a variety of statistical information, analyses of information, and technical assistance to planners, program administrators, and State and area agencies.

(c) Which of these activitis are new since the 1973 amendments?

The activities described regarding Information and Referral, the development of a data base of statistical information, the development of a thesaurus of terms, and the increased technical assistance concerned with statistical analysis and methodology are all new since the 1973 amendments.

After we have an opportunity to review the results of the use survey and the recommendations of the strategy evaluation discussed earlier we will be in a much better position to make the necessary decisions as to the final implementation plans for the Clearinghouse and for the services to be provided by the Clearinghouse.

Q. 18. As you know, the conference report for the Supplemental Appropriation for FY 1975 states that it is the intent of Congress that the nutrition program operating level be raised to at least $150 million for FY 1975.

(a) What steps are being taken to ensure that this happens? (b) Have all FY 1975 funds been released to the States?

A. (a) The Congress appropriated $125 million for the Title VII Program during Fiscal Year 1975. The President has requested a rescission of any amount appropriated over the $99.6 million requested in the FY 1975 budget. The Administration on Aging is awaiting final action on the rescission request by the Congress.

(b) As mentioned earlier, the Administration on Aging is awaiting action on the President's rescission request before States are notified as to the FY 1975 funds that will be available for the Title VII program. However, funds for operating the Title VII program during FY 1975 at the $99.6 million level have already been made available to the States. These funds were released in April 1974.

Q. 19. I know that you have devised joint activities with ACTION for FY 1974 which included the establishment of older American volunteer programs funded by ACTION in every planning and service area with an area plan under Title III; and that such volunteer programs were to be developed in coordination with the appropriate State and area agencies on aging. To what extent was this objective carried out at the local level?

A. States provided information on the number of area agencies, Title III projects, and nutrition projects which were utilizing ACTION's Older Americans volunteers during Fiscal Year 1974. The reports showed that 186 area agencies with approved area plans were utilizing ACTION's volunteers in a variety of activities including assisting staff of area agencies, information and referral and in social services activities under approved area plans. One hundred and twenty

nine (129) Title III projects in areas without approved area plans and 279 nutrition projects were utilizing ACTION's older volunteers. States reported a total of 27,596 of ACTION's older volunteers participating in Title III and Title VII programs throughout the country.

In addition to the already mentioned activities, ACTION's older volunteers assisted staff of nutrition projects; participated in home delivery of meals under Title VII, and in other social service activities. Included among the activities were escort, home visiting, outreach and telephone reassurance.

Q. 20. Do you think there is good rationale for paying Foster Grandparents and Senior aides under ACTION less than the minimum age when older persons performing similar functions under the Older American Community Service Employment program receive the minimum wage?

A. No response submitted.

Q. 21. The 1973 amendments to the Older Americans Act amended the Library Services and Construction Act, the National Commission on Libraries and Information Science Act, the Higher Education Act of 1965 and the Adult Education Act to initiate and extend services to older persons. Can you tell us what progress has been made as a result of these amendments to better serve older Americans? A. The following is a summary of the provisions of Title VIII and the status of each provision:

1. Establishing "Title IV-Older Readers Services" as part of the Library Services and Construction Act, to provide library services for older persons. No funds have ever been requested or appropriated. However, under Title I of the Library Services and Construction Act States can provide for specialized services for the elderly.

In 1973, the most recent year for which data is available, it was estimated that 640,000 older persons received specialized services under Title I.

2. Amended National Commission on Libraries and Information Science Act to require that one of the members be knowledgeable with respect to the library and information science needs of the elderly.

The Commission has conformed with this statute.

3. Established Section 110 of the Higher Education Act of 1965, "Special Programs and Projects Relating to Problems of the Elderly," to assist institutions of higher education assist the elderly..

No funds have ever been requested or appropriated. However, in 1974 two special projects for older persons were supported under Section 106, "Special Programs and Projects Relating to National and Regional Problems," of Title I of the HEA.

4. Established Section 310 of the Adult Education Act, "Special Projects for the Elderly," to expand educational opportunity and encourage the establishment of adult public education programs.

No funds have ever been requested or appropriated.

Activities have been initiated in many institutions of higher education, however, designed to serve older persons. The Administration on Aging has been involved in several efforts to expand these activities.

AoA has supported efforts by the Adult Education Association and the American Association of Community and Junior Colleges to expand educational opportunities for older persons. Both organizations developed an inventory of activity currently underway in their respective areas, and developed materials outlining how other programs could be initiated or expanded. AoA is now distributing these materials.

Moreover, the Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education is sponsoring a conference on Postsecondary Education for Older Adults which will be held February 26-28, 1975 at Fairhaven College, Washington State. The Conference is intended as an ocassion for (1) defining the present state of postsecondary educational programs for older adults, (2) systematically exploring some major issues related to postsecondary education for older adults, and (3) documenting the observations and conclusions. AoA has been involved in the planning for this conference, along with the Gerontological Society, university and junior college representatives, the Senate Special Committee on Aging, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the Office of Education.

The report of the Conference proceedings will be published by the Senate Special Committee on Aging.

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The Administration on Aging is beginning the development of a joint working agreement with the Office of Education which will be designed to make available more educational opportunities for older persons.

Q. 22. In 1971 President Nixon stated that the Federal Government would no longer continue to subsidize substandard nursing homes; and HEW developed an 8-point program to raise the quality of nursing homes. However the quality of care appears to now be no better. Why has the HEW program failed?

A. Considerable progress has been made in the nursing home area since 1971. The HEW program has not failed although, admittedly, we still have a long distance to travel. It is generally recognized that the vigorous leadership provided by former Under Secretary Carlucci, at the request of and with the continuous support of Secretary Weinberger, has produced results. As Commissioner on Aging, I feel that this is one of the most important issues confronting us at this time. I would be happy to provide the Committee with written comments on specific issues or to discuss the issues with the staff or members of the Committee. Q. 23. Are all State Plans under Title III for FY 1975 now approved by AoA? A. All Fiscal Year 1975 State Plans have been approved by the Commissioner on Aging with the following exceptions:

Virgin Islands The FY 1974 State Plan was extended through January 31, 1975, to permit the new Governor the opportunity to sign the plan. The Governor's signature has not as yet been received, but is expected within a few days.

Pennsylvania-The FY 1974 State Plan was extended pending resolution of issues regarding the authority of the State agency on aging and the matter of direct delivery of social services by area agencies. These issues have been resolved and the FY 1975 State Plan will be approved as soon as a letter of approval is drafted.

North Dakota-The FY 1974 State Plan was extended for a period of forty five days to permit submission of an action plan governing participation of minority contractors in the program. It is anticipated that this plan will be submitted shortly.

Trust Territories-The FY 1974 State Plan was extended for a period of forty five days to permit submission on an affirmative action plan. This section of the plan is due the middle of February.

Q. 24. Can you set forth for us the cycle of Area and State plan development, submission, and approved as it has actually taken place with respect to FY 1975? A. Title III regulations as published on October 11, 1973 provided under Section 903.16 that State Plans were to be submitted to the Commissioner on Aging at least 60 days prior to the beginning of each Fiscal Year. A revision of this provision included in the Model Projects regulations published May 21, 1974 provided that for Fiscal Year 1975 the State Plan submitted date would be extended to September 1 (Section 903.16(b)). This revision was provided in response to the tremendous volumes of work placed on the State Agencies to implement both the new Title III and Title VII programs.

After announcing the revised State Plan schedule, the Administration on Aging conducted an analysis of selected activities of the State Agencies on aging; namely, the area of the energy crisis, minority contractor support, and affirmative action in employment at the State and area agency levels. As a result of these analyses, State Agencies were directed to expressly provide for three additional activities in the 1975 State Plans: an affirmative action program for State and area agencies on aging; an action plan for compliance with the minority contractor rule; and an action plan for meeting the needs of the elderly during the energy crisis. Consequently, a further change in the schedule for submission and approval of State Plans was announced to permit States Agencies on aging added time to adequately develop additional plan components. The Administration on Aging developed three options regarding the time frame for submission and approval of State Plans. These were as follows: 1. The State Agency was permitted to submit its plan with the added components in time for approval by November 1.

2. The State Agency was permitted to submit its plan without these components, for approval by November 1. This plan, if otherwise adequate, was to be approved through December 15, with the condition that the additional items had to be submitted as State Plan amendments in time to be approved by December 15.

3 The State Agency was permitted to request a postponement for the submission of the State Plan until December 15, and to submit a complete plan that included these additional items in time for approval by December 15.

Thus State Plans were submitted and approved at differing points in time in accordance with the above options. In some few instances, as noted in response to the above question, it was necessary to extend approval of the Fiscal Year 1974 State Plan beyond the December 15 date; but in all other cases State Agencies were operating with an approved Fiscal Year 1975 State Plan by December 31, 1974 or earlier. It was necessary to extend the deadline from December 15to December 31 for practical administrative reasons.

The cycle of approval of Area Plans constitutes another matter. The approval of such plans is a function of each State Agency and is not regulated by the Administration on Aging. Area Plans, in many instances, are approved at different points throughout the Fiscal Year, as the area agency completes its planning. process and submit its plan to the State Agency. Nationally it appears that the general schedule followed calls for the submission of area plans to State Agencies by May 1, with an approval target date of June 30.

9. 25. To what extent were you consulted before the Administration decided to: -cut back food stamps for the elderly?

-propose changes in medicare which would result in higher health costs for most sick older persons?

-propose a 5% limitation on increases due to inflation in many of the programs on which older persons depend?

A. No response submitted.