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What happens when you cut what keeps people safe? For thousands of older adults in our region, services funded through the Older Americans Act (OAA) are the only thing keeping them safe, independent, and out of crisis. We share deep concern, along with the rest of the aging network, regarding the proposed elimination of critical OAA programs outlined in the recently released FY2026 Presidential budget. These proposed cuts would have a devastating impact on the lives of older adults, individuals with disabilities, and veterans in our communities, particularly in protective areas such as Elder Abuse Prevention, the Long-Term Care Ombudsman, and Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (DPHP).

The Area Agency on Aging of Western Michigan (AAAWM) serves over 16,000 individuals annually across our nine-county region, through OAA-funded initiatives that support health, safety, and independence. These OAA programs are not extras. They are the reason thousands of people avoid emergency room visits, stay out of institutions, and remain connected to their communities.

If you share our commitment to these programs, please join us in advocacy. Below you will find the link to our latest toolkit, providing tools to help you advocate, including:

• Legislative Contact Sheet
• Call Script for Advocating for Federal Funding
• Social Media Graphics
• Sample Letters to Elected Officials for Protective Programs

Download the Toolkit