10/16/2025

ACL Releases Updated Guidance for State Plans on Aging

The Administration for Community Living (ACL) has issued new guidance for developing State Plans on Aging, replacing the 2021 directive to State Units on Aging. The updated framework, effective October 1, 2025, aligns with the Older Americans Act and recent regulatory updates under 45 CFR part 1321, and comes just as Ohio is in the process of developing its own state plan on aging (SPOA), facilitated by the Health Policy Institute of Ohio.

The document outlines expectations for state plans covering fiscal years 2026 through 2029, including requirements for public input, measurable outcomes, and coordination of long-term care and community-based services. State plans must be submitted to ACL by July 1 of the year the plan begins and approved by the Assistant Secretary for Aging.

The guidance emphasizes targeting services to individuals with the greatest economic and social need, expanding home- and community-based services, and supporting caregivers across the aging network.

Read the full guidance on the ACL website.