This year marks a monumental milestone: the 60th anniversary of the Older Americans Act (OAA), the landmark legislation that has helped millions of older adults live with independence, dignity, and support since 1965.
Signed into law as part of President Lyndon B. Johnson’s Great Society reforms, the OAA laid the foundation for senior services across the nation—funding essential programs like Meals on Wheels, transportation, senior centers, caregiver support, legal aid, and more. Over six decades, it has become a lifeline for older adults navigating the challenges of aging.
Locally, the impact has been profound. Community Bridges’ Meals on Wheels for Santa Cruz County has served nearly 10 million meals to more than 75,000 older adults since its founding in 1976—thanks in large part to OAA funding, along with state, local, and donor support.
But as we celebrate this milestone, we must also recognize the urgent need ahead.
Honoring the Past by Protecting the Future
Already, local older adults are grappling with rising food, healthcare, and housing costs—forcing many to make impossible choices between paying for groceries, medications, or rent in one of the most unaffordable rental markets in the country. Deep federal cuts to CalFresh (SNAP), Medicaid, and the National Senior Nutrition Program (NSIP), included in the recently passed “One Big Beautiful Bill,” threaten to make matters even worse by slashing funding and imposing expanded work requirements on adults aged 55–64.
At a time when more and more seniors are turning to safety net programs, support is being pulled away.
And the data from our own community underscores just how urgent the need is.
According to our recent Congregate Meal Survey, nearly 71% of seniors said they had worried in the past year that their food would run out before they had money to buy more, and 64% said the food they bought just didn’t last. Over 54% shared that the meals they receive are their main source of nutrition. Perhaps most striking: 91% said eating at the dining site helps them feel less isolated.
Our Home-Delivered Meals survey paints a similarly stark picture: 57% of respondents worried that food would run out or didn’t have enough money to buy more, and 42% said Meals on Wheels was their main source of nutrition. A full 73% said the meals help them remain in their own homes, and more than 81% said the meals helped them eat healthier.
Seniors in our community are relying on Meals on Wheels to survive.
We deliver meals weekly to over 1,200 homebound seniors and serve meals daily to another 500 seniors at community dining sites across Watsonville, Santa Cruz, Live Oak, and Ben Lomond. Each meal is a chance to nourish a body and lift a spirit. Each visit is an opportunity to check on a neighbor, and to remind them: you are not alone.
If we want to truly honor the 60-year legacy of the Older Americans Act, we must act with urgency—and solidarity—to ensure every senior can continue to age with dignity, safety, and support.
Take Action: Celebrate 60 Years by Safeguarding the Next 60
This anniversary isn’t just a time to reflect on the past. It’s a call to shape the future. By protecting and expanding funding for the Older Americans Act, we can ensure older adults continue to receive the services they need to age with dignity and support.
With Congress currently shaping the next federal budget, now is the time to speak up. Deep federal cuts and new barriers to support threaten the very programs that allow older adults to live independently and with dignity.
Here’s how you can help:
📧 Email Congress: mealsonwheelsamerica.org/oaa-60th-anniversary/#advocacy-embed
📞 Call your representative: 202-224-3121
💛 Donate or volunteer: communitybridges.org/donate | communitybridges.org/volunteer
📢 Spread the word: Let neighbors know about local services for seniors in need.
It takes all of us—federal lawmakers, local leaders, and neighbors like you—to ensure our older adults are seen, valued, and supported. Let’s carry the legacy of the Older Americans Act forward for another 60 years—and beyond.
