Frontline Initiative Later Life Supports

All Americans — including people with disabilities and seniors — should be able to live at home with the supports they need and participate in communities that value their contributions. To help meet these needs, HHS [the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services] created a new organization, the Administration for Community Living (ACL) with the goal of increasing access to community supports and full participation, while focusing attention and resources on the unique needs of older Americans and people with disabilities. 

ACL includes the efforts and achievements of the Administration on Aging, the Office on Disability and the Administration on Developmental Disabilities in a single agency, with enhanced policy and program support for both cross-cutting initiatives and efforts focused on the unique needs of individual groups such as children with developmental disabilities, adults with physical disabilities, or seniors, including seniors with Alzheimer’s.

For too long, too many Americans have faced the impossible choice between moving to an institution or living at home without the long-term services and supports they need. The goal of the new Administration for Community Living will be to help people with disabilities and older Americans live productive, satisfying lives. 

– Secretary Kathleen Sebelius (2012) U.S. Department of Health and Human Services