§ 3021 — Purpose And Program

(1) It is the purpose of this subchapter to encourage and assist State agencies and area agencies on aging to concentrate resources in order to develop greater capacity and foster the development and implementation of comprehensive and coordinated systems to serve older individuals by entering into new cooperative arrangements in each State with the persons described in paragraph (2), for the planning, and for the provision of, supportive services, and multipurpose senior centers, in order to— (A) secure and maintain maximum independence and dignity in a home environment for older individuals capable of self care with appropriate supportive services; (B) remove individual and social barriers to economic and personal independence for older individuals; (C) provide a continuum of care for vulnerable older individuals; (D) secure the opportunity for older individuals to receive managed in-home and community-based long-term care services; and (E) measure impacts related to social determinants of health of older individuals. (2) The persons referred to in paragraph (1) include— (A) State agencies and area agencies on aging; (B) other State agencies, including agencies that administer home and community care programs; (C) Indian tribes, tribal organizations, and Native Hawaiian organizations; (D) the providers, including voluntary organizations or other private sector organizations, of supportive services, nutrition services, and multipurpose senior centers; (E) organizations representing or employing older individuals or their families; and (F) organizations that have experience in providing training, placement, and stipends for volunteers or participants who are older individuals (such as organizations carrying out Federal service programs administered by the Corporation for National and Community Service), in community service settings. (1) In order to effectively carry out the purpose of this subchapter, the Assistant Secretary shall administer programs under this subchapter through the Administration. (2) and such other agencies and departments of the Federal Government as may be appropriate. (c) The Assistant Secretary shall provide technical assistance and training (by contract, grant, or otherwise) to State long-term care ombudsman programs established under section 3027(a)(9) of this title in accordance with section 3058g of this title, and to individuals within such programs designated under section 3058g of this title to be representatives of a long-term care ombudsman, in order to enable such ombudsmen and such representatives to carry out the ombudsman program effectively. (1) Any funds received under an allotment as described in section 3024(a) of this title, or funds contributed toward the non-Federal share under section 3024(d) of this title, shall be used only for activities and services to benefit older individuals and other individuals as specifically provided for in this subchapter. (2) No provision of this subchapter shall be construed as prohibiting a State agency or area agency on aging from providing services by using funds from sources not described in paragraph (1).