119-s473

[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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