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GEORGIA

As in most States throughout the country, Georgia counties report a number of activities involving senior citizens in community service programs. These include preparing meals for the elderly, cleaning house, doing errands, and others.

MICHIGAN

A "youth can do it" program initiated through a special grant is also proving beneficial to the elderly in six counties of Michigan involved in this pilot project. Purpose of the project was to train youth (especially low income) in home repair and maintenance, help youth earn money, improve the physical environment of their local communities, and utilize resources most efficiently including labor and materials. An evaluation of this project shows it has provided low income youth with spending money and has done much to increase their skills. An important result has been that many of the youth have taken home repair as a community service activity and are doing jobs free for the elderly of the community.

ALL STATES-MICHIGAN

Over the years, senior citizens have made important contributions as volunteers for local 4-H Clubs. In recent years, there has been an increase in the number of volunteer leaders who have stayed with the 4-H program for 40 or more years. In Midland County, Mich., for example, an 82-year-old volunteer leader began her 4-H work 41 years ago as a clothing leader and then later began a project in leathercraft. She is now an expert in this project and serves as a resource person for statewide 4-H meetings each year. She is presently working with 4-H groups in two counties.

SEVERAL STATES

The generation alliance program (GAP) is an important program in a number of States.

Teenage 4-H members form approximately 15 4-H Clubs in Arlington Heights, Ill., have been meeting with the local chapter of AARP for more than a year. Teenagers are learning the skills of crafts that have been practiced and perfected by senior citizens, about careers, and travels. Discussion topics among youth and the elderly have included drug abuse and other important national concerns. In Clark County, Ohio, as a part of the GAP program, six 4-H junior leaders served as a panel to discuss some of the important issues of today with 200 elderly citizens. The junior leaders were asked questions about discipline in the school and home, drugs and alcohol, and others. The junior leaders asked the elderly their views on various subjects. Everyone involved thought the program was a tremendous success and other discussions are planned for the future.

SEVERAL STATES-COLORADO

A number of States are encouraging their extension youth program to "tap in" on the retired senior volunteer program sponsored by ACTION. These volunteers are serving as 4-H Club project leaders or as leaders of special interest programs. The Jefferson County Extension Service, Colorado, is participating in a day camping program for youth 4 to 11 years of age, designed to introduce younger youth to an environmental camping experience and to promote the family 4-H idea. Retired senior volunteers are providing valuable resources for this camping program. Other teachers participating in this program appreciate the retired senior volunteers due to their great rapport with youth and their skills in a number of subject areas such as geology, nature, weather, and others. All reports on this program are very positive and it is hoped it can be expanded further.

FOOD AND NUTRITION SERVICE

FOOD STAMP PROGRAM

Legislation was enacted in 1976 which is of benefit to the elderly. Public Law 94-365 extended eligibility of SSI recipients for food stamps through June 30, 1977, unless they live in a State that is providing the bonus value of food stamps

in cash. Under this legislation, Massachusetts remained the only State which met the criteria as a cash-out State.

SSI recipients in California, New York, and Nevada (applies to blind and aged only), became eligible to participate in the food stamp program. For certain SSI recipients in those States, temporary waivers of the interview requirement and the nonassistance application were granted to assist the SSI recipients in making the transition.

California, however, sought legislation to permit it to remain a cash-out State and Public Law 94-379 allowed the DHEW Secretary to designate California as a cash-out State provided the State passed through all or a portion of the annual increase in the Federal SSI payment.

In compliance with court order in the case of Bennett v. Butz, all outreach activities are required to be carried out with special regard to the need of elderly and several other groups. Each State agency, among other things, is required to use volunteer groups and agencies, both public and private, for disseminating food stamp information and in assisting in outreach functions. Feedback from States during the year demonstrated the significant role volunteers are playing in distributing information, especially to homes and other places where senior citizen live and assemble for companionship. Other outreach efforts are directed toward supplying transportation, and helping certain individuals apply for, purchase, and use food stamps.

As mentioned in previous reports, under currrent program provisions, certain elderly recipients may use food coupons to pay for home-delivered meals or meals served at a communal dining facility. As of September 30, 1976, there were 1,846 nonprofit meal delivery services and 4.390 communal dining facilities authorized to accept coupons in exchange for meals served or delivered to elderly persons. There are two other current program provisions which are of particular benefit to elderly persons; namely, the provisions for the use of an authorized representative when a recipient is unable to apply for or purchase and use coupons in person and the provision for mail issuance of coupons.

In regard to any plans for 1977, careful consideration will be given to the situation of senior citizens.

FOOD DISTRIBUTION PROGRAM

An amendment to title VII of the Older Americans Act of 1965, Public Law 93-351, enacted July 12, 1974, had a significant impact on USDA food donations to nutrition program for the elderly funded under the act by the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare. This legislation set the minimum level of donated food assistance to these programs at 10 cents per meal (subject to annual adjustments for increased food service costs) and required USDA to give emphasis to purchasing high protein foods, meat, and meat alternates.

Subsequently, Public Law 94-135, enacted November 27, 1975, amended the Older Americans Act to expand the food donation authority to maintain an annually programed level of food assistance to title VII projects of not less than 15 cents per meal in the fiscal year ending on September 30, 1976, and not less than 25 cents per meal for the fiscal year ending on September 30, 1977. Applying the annual adjustment for increased food costs, this resulted in 162 cents per meal for fiscal year 1976 and 274 cents per meal for fiscal year 1977. This legislation further provided, ". in any case in which a State has phased out its commodity distribution facilities before June 30, 1974, such State may, for purposes of the programs authorized by this act, elect to receive cash payments in lieu of donated foods. ." This hold harmless clause is applicable only to the State of Kansas which had phased out its commodity distribution system prior to June 30, 1974.

During fiscal year 1976, some 800 title VII feeding projects covering over 6,000 feeding sites were eligible to receive USDA-donated foods. Based on estimates submitted by the States, we offered foods for 88.5 million meals for the 15-month fiscal year valued at 16% cents per meal or $14.6 million in donated foods. In addition, selected foods were made available by USDA to public and private nonprofit institutions including nursing homes, senior citizens' centers, mels-on-wheels, programs. and other charitable organizations which provide food services for needy persons. Some 7,500 institutions served approximately 870.000 needy persons who benefited from Federal food donations in fiscal year 1975. Of these, more than 25 percent were institutions that have been identified as serving predominantly elderly persons over age 65.

All but two States were actively receiving Federal foods in fiscal year 1976. Kansas, which selected cash in lieu of commodities for their child feeding programs, declined to designate a distributing agency for programing commodities to their title VII feeding projects and, therefore, received cash on the basis of actual meals served. In Georgia, internal administrative problems prevented the State from accepting donated foods in fiscal year 1976. However, designation of a new agency for distribution of donated foods will enable the State to participate in fiscal year 1977.

ITEM 2. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

DECEMBER 28, 1976.

DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: I am pleased to respond to your invitation to provide a summary of major Department of Commerce activities during 1976 which affect the aging. The narrative also mentions activities which are to be continued or undertaken in 1977.

Sincerely,

ELLIOT L. RICHARDSON, Secretary.

[Enclosures.]

PROGRAMS FOR THE AGING 1976

STATISTICAL RESEARCH, DATA, AND PUBLICATIONS

During 1976, the Bureau of the Census issued the following reports containing statistical data on the demographic, social, and economic characteristics of older Americans. Many of these reports are issued annually and will be updated in 1977.

Series P-20

No.

290.

291.

292.

293.

295

296

297

302

303.

CURRENT POPULATION REPORTS

Title

Persons of Spanish Origin in the United States: March 1975.
Household and Family Characteristics: March 1975.
Population Profile of the United States: 1975.

Voting and Registration in the Election of November 1974.
_Educational Attainment in the United States: March 1975.
_-_Households and Families by Type: March 1976 (Advance).
_Number, Timing, and Duration of Marriages and Divorces in the United
States: June 1975.

Persons of Spanish Origin in the United States: March 1976.

-School Enrollment-Social and Economic Characteristics of Students:
October 1975.

304_____Geographical Mobility: March 1975 to March 1976.

Series P-23

58

59_

60_ 61.

A Statistical Portrait of Women in the United States.

-Demographic Aspects of Aging and the Older Population in the United
States.

_Language Usage in the United States: July 1975 (Advance).
-Characteristics of Households Purchasing Food Stamps.

64-The Geographic Mobility of Americans: An International Comparison. Series P-25

619_

623

Estimates of the Population of States, by Age: 1974 and 1975 (Advance).
Projections of the Population of Voting Age for States: November 1976.

Series P-28

1523.

Special Census of Brookhaven, N.Y.: Apr. 26, 1975.

1524

--Special Census of Milwaukee, Wis.: Mar. 3, 1975.
-Special Census of Dubuque, Iowa: Sept. 30, 1975.
-Special Census of Cedar Rapids, Iowa: July 14, 1975.
Special Census of San Bernardino County, Calif.: Apr. 1, 1975.
1528----Special Census of Bonneville County, Idaho: November 1975.

1525.

1526_ 1527.

1529. 1530. 1531_ 1532_ 1533_

1534

1535

Special Census of Bloomington, Minn.: September 1975.
Special Census of Clarksville, Tenn.: November 1975.
Special Census of Scottsdale, Ariz.: October 1975.
Special Census of Glendale, Ariz.: October 1975.
-Special Census of Mesa, Ariz.: October 1975.
Special Census of Joliet, Ill.: August 1975.
Special Census of Waterloo, Iowa: August 1975.

1536.

1538_

1539.

1540. 1542_ 1543_

1544. 1545.

Special Census of San Juaquin County, Calif.: October 1975.
Special Census of Phoenix, Ariz.: October, 1975.
Special Census of Tempe, Ariz.: October 1975.
Special Census of Green Bay, Wis.: February 1976.
-Special Census of North Little Rock, Ark.: April 1976.
Special Census of St. Petersburg, Fla.: January 1976.
Special Census of Taylor, Mich. : March 1976.
-Special Census of Alington Heights, Ill.: May 1976.
1547----Special Census of Clinton Town, Mich. : July 1976.
Series P-60

101 102.

103--

_Money Income in 1974 of Families and Persons in the United States.
--Characteristics of the Population Below the Poverty Level: 1974.
--Money Income and Poverty Status of Families and Persons in the United
States: 1975 and 1974 Revisions (Advance).

One report issued during 1976 which is of particular interest is entitled "Demographic Aspects of Aging and the Older Population in the United States" (Series P-23, No. 59). This report presents and analyzes data on age, sex, and race composition; geographic distribution and internal migration; mortality and survival; and certain social and economic characteristics. As an important component of change in the size of the older population, mortality is considered in some detail both historically and prospectively.

The Bureau's Center for Census Use Studies conducted a study and published information on the older population under an interagency agreement with the Administration on Aging of the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare. In 1976, a report entitled "Social Statistics for the Elderly, State Level System: Nebraska Social Report" was published. A corresponding "Users' Report” and an "Executive Report" for Nebraska are to be published during 1977 by the Administration on Aging. Also to be published by the Administration on Aging through this interagency effort is a report on the elderly minority in Austin, Tex., and Pittsburgh, Pa.

Mr. Jacob Siegel of the Census Bureau's Population Division presented a paper on "Effect of Changes in Age-Specific Death Rates on Life Expectancy in the United States" in a gerontological session at the meeting of the American Health Association in Miami, Fla., in October 1977.

The Department's National Technical Information Service (NTIS) sells two technical reports that treat the aging:

1. "The Elderly" (NTIS-PS-77-0595) contains 254 selected abstracts of research reports submitted to NTIS by Federal agencies, private organizations, and individuals with Federal grants or contracts. The topics include social services, health, housing, and transportation.

2. "Transportation for the Elderly or Physically Handicapped" (NTIS-PS76-0622) contains 83 abstracts of reports on transportation difficulties and design as they relate to the aged and handicapped population. The source documents were submitted to NTIS by both Federal and non-Federal organizations.

PATENTS

A continuing program element which affects aging is section 708.02 of the Manual of Patent Examining Procedures, which allows patent applications from individuals who are 65 years of age or older to be "made special;" that is, the application may be taken up for examination earlier than its effective filing date normally would permit.

The following patents are examples of those granted during 1976 by the Patent and Trademark Office which directly affect the aging:

No. 3,937,838.-A composition and method for producing bronchial dilation used in treating asthmatic conditions. This composition has a lower incidence of side effects than prior drugs. Usually side effects are of considerable danger in treating older patients.

No. 3,968,249.-Pharmaceutical preparations and the method of using them in the treatment of malignant neoplastic disease (cancer). The preparations have been found to be effective for the amelioration of the symptoms of various forms of leukemia, carcinoma, and sarcoma in various body organs.

No. 3,987,182.-Chemical compounds for treating benign prostatic hypertrophy, a condition which increases in frequency with age.

SAFETY

The Center for Fire Research of the National Bureau of Standards is conducting two programs that will benefit the aging. One is to develop life safety systems for hospitals, nursing homes, and other institutional facilities. The program is focusing on six elements of life safety: (1) decision analysis, (2) behavior in fire emergencies, (3) alarm and communication systems, (4) smoke control systems, (5) fire and smoke detectors, and (6) automatic extinguishment. The research program began in 1975, continued through 1976, and will go into 1977.

The second program is to develop a new general wearing apparel flammability standard. The center is developing the technical base and test method for the standard. The flammability of wearing apparel would be of particular concern to those elderly people of lessened mobility who would benefit from the additional protection of clothing that is more fire-resistant than what is now generally available.

The National Fire Prevention and Control Administration (NFPCA) also has several programs which affect the aging. One program involves technical research on fire prevention methods and standards for nursing homes and hospitals. The research will continue in 1977.

During 1976, NFPCA implemented a major public education project directed toward fire prevention among the elderly, who have the highest rate of injuries and deaths from fires. The project used written materials as well as radio and television spots and programs.

NFPCA's Public Education Office prepared a brochure for senior citizens advising them on fire prevention methods and the escape procedures to follow should a fire occur.

Under development at present is a plan to include senior citizens in fire prevention home inspection programs handled by local fire departments across the country.

BUSINESS ASSISTANCE

District offices of the Domestic and International Business Administration (DIBA) have continued to work actively with the Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE). The SCORE group has provided assistance in developing business plans and has participated in seminars on international export promotion. The district offices provide SCORE personnel with certain business information, and SCORE is then able to assist companies on technical matters. The district offices consider SCORE as a major outreach of their activities in that SCORE is able to provide indepth assistance to the business community, which the district offices often cannot do because of limited resources.

HEALTH-RELATED RESEARCH

The National Bureau of Standards (NBS) conducts a number of healthrelated studies applicable to persons of all ages but having special impact on older persons.

One study is concerned with the use and success of metallic biological implants such as heart pacemakers and skeletal replacements. The number of implants has increased dramatically in recent years to the present number of 2 million per year in the United States alone.

NBS, with its advanced materials capability and expertise, has made a major contribution to this success by providing the standards, characterization, testing, and material properties which could be combined with the medical input. Skeletal and reconstructive surgical implants require strong, inert, biocompatible material, and although presently used materials are good, many deficiencies still exist. Research is continuing at NBS in this area with an overall goal to provide improved data leading to metal implants which will not fail unexpectedly in service or produce adverse reaction of any kind at any time. Results from this research can impact directly on our elderly citizens.

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