What is an Area Agency on Aging?
An Area Agency on Aging (AAA) is a public or private nonprofit agency designated by a state to address the needs and concerns of all older persons at the regional and local levels. AAA is a general term - -names of local AAAs may vary by location.
Area Agencies on Aging are primarily responsible for a geographic area, also known as a planning and service area (PSA), that is either a city, a single county, or a multi-county district. AAAs may be categorized as a county, city, regional planning council or council of governments, private, or nonprofit. Seniors Council of Santa Cruz and San Benito Counties, PSA #13, serves as the AAA for this two-county region, and has done so since the inception of Area Agencies on Aging as part of the 1973 Older Americans Act (OAA) Amendments.
Area Agencies on Aging coordinate and offer services that help older adults remain in their homes, if that is their preference, aided by services such as home-delivered meals, homemaker assistance, and whatever else it may take to make independent living a viable option. By making a range of supports available, AAAs make it possible for older individuals to choose the services and living arrangements that suit them best.
What do Area Agencies on Aging Do?
Area Agencies on Aging assist older adults and caregivers looking for information and resources. They are experts on all aspects of aging. They provide specialized assistance on Medicare, Medicaid and health insurance issues through the Medicare Medicaid Assistance Program (MMAP). AAAs, using competitive bidding and subcontracting, provide Care Management, a service that assists frail elders and their families by 1) performing a thorough in-home assessment of the elder’s condition and living situation, 2) developing a care plan to assist the elder in maintaining a quality life, 3) determining if the elder qualifies for any government programs, and 4) educating the elder about the services and programs from which he or she can choose.
Area Agencies on Aging create new services to fill gaps. Creating a service means raising money, finding one or more agencies to provide the service, coordinating the new service with existing programs, and informing seniors and the community about the availability of the new service. AAAs raise additional resources from governmental and private sources. They solicit funds from federal, state and local governments, nonprofit agencies, corporations, foundations, direct mail solicitations, special events and private donors.
Area Agencies on Aging advocate on behalf of older adults and caregivers. AAAs advocate for new programs, more funds for existing programs, and public policies that benefit the elderly. The federal Older Americans Act requires AAAs to advocate for older adults. AAAs have a history of being successful in advocating for federal, state and local resources, and blend all three into a cost-effective service system.
Area Agencies on Aging play a key role in planning; they survey and research the needs of older adults, and they catalogue the services available to coordinate efforts and prevent duplication. After determining needs and resources, they prioritize unmet needs and develop plans to address them. In some cases, meeting seniors’ needs requires advocacy and in other cases, services or the development of services are necessary. AAAs fund a wide variety of home and community-based services, and screen potential partners to find those that deliver quality services at a reasonable price.
