As a professional dedicated to the well-being of older adults, I am deeply troubled by the recent decision by the current federal administration to dismantle the Administration for Community Living (ACL). This move sends millions of seniors nationwide a disheartening message: you are not important.
The ACL has been a cornerstone in supporting older adults and individuals with disabilities, overseeing programs that provide essential services such as home-delivered meals, transportation, caregiver support and assistance to remain in the home. Its elimination threatens the very fabric of community-based systems that allow older adults to age with dignity, health and independence.
The American Society on Aging has expressed grave concerns about this decision, noting ACL-funded programs serve more than 11 million older adults annually. These programs help prevent unnecessary hospitalizations and premature institutionalization, promote well-being and reduce social isolation. Dismantling the ACL risks disrupting these services and undermining decades of progress in aging policy and support.
While Cupertino, where I live, is often viewed as a well-resourced community, the effects of this decision ripple outward. Many older adults in surrounding areas — including those in East Palo Alto, San Jose and communities across Santa Clara and San Mateo counties — rely on ACL-supported programs like Meals on Wheels and caregiver assistance. These programs are vital for older adults who are low-income, homebound or living without a nearby family. Their removal would leave many even more vulnerable, reinforcing the perception among aging adults that their needs — and their lives — don’t matter.
Preserving the ACL is not just about maintaining federal programs. It’s about upholding our values. It’s about recognizing the worth of every older adult, regardless of income, ZIP code or political climate and ensuring they can continue living full, connected lives in the communities they call home.
The restructuring is now underway. But this does not mean the conversation is over. Now more than ever, we must speak up to ensure the voices and needs of older adults are not lost in the shuffle of bureaucratic reorganization. Reach out to your congressional representatives. Ask them to provide oversight, demand transparency and protect funding for the vital programs that have long supported older adults and people with disabilities through the ACL.
The well-being of millions depends on our vigilance — and our willingness to act.
Sally Duplantier is a gerontologist, Healthspan educator and researcher focused on improving the health and well-being of older adults.
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