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This bill would update the Older Americans Act so programs for older adults can also screen for loneliness and connect people with supportive services and health care that may help with its harmful effects. It treats loneliness as a serious issue, not just social isolation, and asks the government to study how well current programs are dealing with it. The bill also requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to report on loneliness, including how common it is, how it affects physical and mental health, what kinds of services are being used to help, and what more could be done to support older adults and strengthen family connections across generations.
- It changes the law so “loneliness” is included alongside “social isolation” in older adult services.
- It requires a report on programs that help older adults, especially those with the greatest social need, and on how those programs address loneliness.
- The report must look at how widespread loneliness is, what health problems it can cause, and how public awareness and prevention efforts are working.
- The Secretary must send Congress an interim report within 2 years and a final report within 5 years after the bill becomes law.
Official Summaries
Social Engagement and Network Initiatives for Older Relief Act or the SENIOR Act
This bill expands the scope of authorized Administration on Aging (AOA) grants to include services addressing loneliness in older individuals (i.e., aged 60 or older), and requires a report evaluating whether certain federal programs are adequately addressing this topic.
Under current law, the AOA provides grants to states for disease prevention and health promotion services for older individuals, including services addressing the negative health effects of social isolation. The bill expands the scope of the services eligible for these grants to include services addressing the negative health effects of loneliness.
Also, the bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services to submit to Congress a report (1) evaluating whether its programs for older individuals are adequately addressing loneliness, and (2) recommending measures for reducing the negative health effects of loneliness and fostering multigenerational family connections.
Current Full Text
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 473 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 473
To amend the Older Americans Act of 1965 to include screening for
loneliness and coordination of supportive services and health care to
address the negative health effects of loneliness, to require a report
on loneliness, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
February 6 (legislative day, February 5), 2025
Mr. Scott of Florida (for himself, Ms. Smith, and Mr. Warnock)
introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Older Americans Act of 1965 to include screening for
loneliness and coordination of supportive services and health care to
address the negative health effects of loneliness, to require a report
on loneliness, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Social Engagement and Network
Initiatives for Older Relief Act'' or the ``SENIOR Act''.
SEC. 2. SCREENING OLDER INDIVIDUALS FOR LONELINESS AND COORDINATION OF
SUPPORTIVE SERVICES AND HEALTH CARE TO ADDRESS
LONELINESS.
Section 102(14)(N) of the Older Americans Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C.
3002(14)(N)) is amended by inserting ``and loneliness'' after ``social
isolation'' each place it appears.
SEC. 3. REPORT ON LONELINESS.
(a) Preparation of Report.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary shall, in carrying out
activities under section 206(a) of the Older Americans Act of
1965 (42 U.S.C. 3017(a)), prepare a report--
(A) on programs authorized by such Act (42 U.S.C.
3001 et seq.), and supported or funded by the
Administration on Aging, that include a focus on
addressing the negative health effects associated with
loneliness through targeting older individuals
identified as being in greatest social need, as
appropriate; and
(B) that examines the relationship between the
strength of multigenerational family units and
loneliness in older individuals.
(2) Impact.--Such report shall identify--
(A) whether loneliness is being adequately
addressed under the programs described in paragraph
(1)(A), including, to the extent practicable--
(i) the prevalence of loneliness across
geographic areas;
(ii) the negative physical and mental
health effects associated with loneliness; and
(iii) the role of preventive measures and
services under this Act in addressing the
negative health effects associated with
loneliness among older individuals; and
(B) public awareness of and efforts to address the
negative health effects associated with loneliness.
(3) Types of programs.--Such report shall identify whether
programs described in paragraph (1)(A)--
(A) support projects in local communities and
involve diverse sectors associated with such
communities to decrease the negative health effects
associated with loneliness among older individuals and
caregivers;
(B) support outreach activities to screen older
individuals for negative health effects associated with
loneliness; and
(C) include a focus on decreasing the negative
health effects associated with loneliness.
(4) Recommendations.--Such report shall, as appropriate,
include--
(A) recommendations for reducing the negative
health effects associated with loneliness and to
address any negative health effects identified under
clauses (ii) and (iii) of subparagraph (A), and
subparagraph (B), of paragraph (2); and
(B) recommendations for policies or programs that
foster strong and stable connections across different
generations in a family.
(b) Submission of Report.--
(1) Interim status report.--Not later than 2 years after
the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit
an interim report, to the committees of the Senate and of the
House of Representatives with jurisdiction over the Older
Americans Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3001 et seq.), and the Special
Committee on Aging of the Senate, on the status of the
evaluation underway to develop the final report required under
this section.
(2) Final report.--Not later than 5 years after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit a final
report that meets the requirements of this section to the
committees of the Senate and of the House of Representatives
with jurisdiction over the Older Americans Act of 1965 (42
U.S.C. 3001 et seq.) and the Special Committee on Aging of the
Senate.
(c) Definitions.--For purposes of this section, the terms
``greatest social need'', ``older individual'', and ``Secretary'' have
the meanings given such terms in section 102 of the Older Americans Act
of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3002).
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