Advocacy, Policy & Aging Services: A Conversation with Bob Blancato

An interview with:

Robert “Bob” Blancato

President, Matz, Blancato and Associates, National Coordinator of the Elder Justice Coalition

Robert Blancato Robert “Bob” Blancato is the National Coordinator of the bipartisan 3000-member Elder Justice Coalition. He is also President of Matz, Blancato and Associates, the Executive Director of the National Association of Nutrition and Aging Services Programs, and the National Coordinator of the Defeat Malnutrition Today coalition.

Bob has long been recognized as a national advocate with policy expertise on behalf of older adults. He has testified numerous times before House and Senate Committees, most recently in 2022 before the House Appropriations Labor-HHS-Education Subcommittee.

Bob’s prior work history includes 17 years as a staffer in Congress and an appointment by President Clinton to be the Executive Director of the 1995 White House Conference on Aging, one of four he has participated in. He is a member of the Senior Executive Service.

As a volunteer, he currently serves as second vice chair of the AARP board and is also on the AARP Foundation, and the board of the National Hispanic Council on Aging. From 2019 to 2023, Bob served on the National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services, appointed by HHS Secretary Azar.

Q: I’d like to start with a major concern many people have right now—the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and its potential impact on Social Security. There’s a lot of talk about possible disruptions or even the department being dismantled. What’s your take on this?

Bob Blancato: Well, these are two separate issues. DOGE is an entity that’s rapidly expanding in multiple directions, all toward the goal of achieving improved efficiencies. Regarding Social Security, I don’t believe DOGE will make significant changes to the program itself. Any adjustments would likely be internal—staffing, contracts or technological updates.

The likeliest major policy shift we might see is the President’s proposal to eliminate the taxation on Social Security benefits that began in 1983. There has been some turmoil within the Social Security Administration, partly due to DOGE placing different personnel in various roles, but that’s more on the administrative side. For those worried about DOGE cutting Social Security benefits, I don’t see that happening. Social Security enjoys strong bipartisan support, and I expect that to continue.

If President Trump’s proposal to end taxation of Social Security benefits moves forward, what impact would that have?

Bob Blancato: The biggest impact would be on the solvency of the program. Each year, the Social Security and Medicare trustees release a report outlining the financial outlook, including a projected date when benefits might be reduced if no action is taken. Right now, we’re looking at the early 2030s for Social Security’s solvency. Eliminating this tax revenue could move that date up, though we don’t yet know by how much. It would unquestionably put additional pressure on the program’s finances.

Are there any bipartisan efforts in Congress right now focused on strengthening aging services, or is the current political climate making that difficult?

Bob Blancato: There was significant bipartisan momentum last year to pass the Older Americans Act (OAA) reauthorization. A bipartisan group of eight senators—Republicans and Democrats—crafted a strong bill that would have renewed the act for four years, increased funding, strengthened programs, and even called for a White House Conference on Aging. Unfortunately, the House never followed through, and the year ended without anything going through.

There are ongoing discussions to revive that bill early this year, but the House remains a wildcard. Given the history of bipartisan support for the OAA, I’m optimistic.

Beyond that, upcoming budget negotiations will be a test of bipartisanship. The government funding deadline is March 14, and avoiding a shutdown will require cooperation. Right now, there’s a lot of political maneuvering—talk of potential shutdowns—but when the deadline hits, decisions will have to be made.

Other bipartisan efforts may emerge post-budget reconciliation, particularly in areas like pharmacy benefit reform. The Cures Act, for example, was a bipartisan health policy initiative, and a new version has already been introduced. Workforce development and elder justice could also see bipartisan cooperation, depending on how legislation is structured.

Beyond the Older Americans Act, are there other major funding challenges facing aging services now or in the near future?

Bob Blancato: Absolutely. Maintaining adequate funding levels for aging programs is always a challenge. Right now, federal funding is stuck at last year’s levels across all programs, which, in practical terms, means a cut—demand for services keeps rising.

Another concern is the research grant space. Some of DOGE’s actions could impact funding for research on aging. There have also been concerning delays in critical meetings about vaccine access. The key challenge will be making a strong case for funding increases by demonstrating the value of these programs. Aging services providers will need to work harder to justify additional investment.

What policy trends do you foresee under the new administration in terms of elder justice and protections against abuse?

Bob Blancato: I expect Trump 2.0 to take a similar approach to his first term—focusing on elder abuse as a crime. This likely means increasing law enforcement resources to go after scam artists and fraud rings targeting older adults.

The Elder Justice Coordinating Council, which was created under the Elder Justice Act, may receive a renewed mandate or expanded responsibilities. This council includes 14 agencies, and the administration could decide to give it a stronger role. However, until key personnel are in place, we won’t have a clear picture of their exact plans.

How do you think the current economic situation is impacting older adults?

Bob Blancato: It’s a growing concern. Poverty rates among older adults are increasing, and inflation is making things worse. Older adults spend their money differently than younger people, and rising costs hit them hard.

There’s also more interest among older adults in staying in the workforce, but the question is whether suitable jobs are available. When Social Security cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) come in, they need to keep pace with rising Medicare premiums and other expenses.

Economic security is critical. If eligibility for programs like SNAP is restricted, food insecurity among older adults will rise. Tariffs and other economic policies could also drive up costs. Consumer confidence is shaky right now, and that affects people of all ages—including older adults. There’s something in the air making people uneasy, and older adults are feeling it, too.

Given the current political landscape, what advocacy strategies do you think are most effective in ensuring continued support for older adults?

Bob Blancato: It’s got to be the grassroots. It’s got to feature local data and local stories. It’s got to be about putting partnerships together that can make a louder voice. It’s about people on the ground calculating what programs mean to older adults and what their disappearance could mean. It’s probably as good a time as I’ve ever seen for advocacy to get as local as possible.

Advocacy isn’t the same as lobbying. It’s about service providers on the ground demonstrating the real-life consequences of funding decisions, and are in a position to say, ‘we serve this many people every day. If you take this away, these people will no longer be served.’ For instance, if a nutrition program is cut, advocates need to show how many older adults would lose their only daily meal. And most importantly, older adults themselves should be part of the advocacy effort.

At the end of the day, advocacy is a contact sport. You need to make connections, communicate frequently and keep pressing until you achieve results.

View the Navigating Change webinar with Bob Blancato!

In this webinar, Bob Blancato examines proposed legislation, new policy directions and emerging trends that could reshape the future of aging services. Whether you’re a policy professional, aging services advocate or engaged citizen, this session provides the information you need to understand and navigate the evolving policy environment. Don’t miss out on this essential conversation about the future of aging policies in the U.S.

Join us for another event with Bob Blancato!

Join Benjamin Rose Institute on Aging and the Elder Justice Coalition on Tuesday, April 15, 2025, at 1:00 PM EST for a 90-minute webinar as we mark the anniversaries of three groundbreaking pieces of legislation that have shaped the landscape of elder care in the United States: the Elder Justice Act, the Affordable Care Act (ACA), and the National Family Caregiver Support Program (NFCSP). Policy expert, Bob Blancato, President of Matz, Blancato & Associates and National Coordinator of the Elder Justice Coalition will explore how these laws have significantly improved the lives of older adults and their families, and examine their lasting impact on health care, caregiving, and the protection of vulnerable older adults.