The Area Agency on Aging — commonly called AAA — is a local organization funded by the federal government to help older adults, people with disabilities, and their caregivers access services and support that help them live independently and with dignity in their communities. There are more than 600 Area Agencies on Aging across the United States covering every community in the country.
Area Agencies on Aging serve as the local hubs of a nationwide network called the Aging Network which was established by the Older Americans Act of 1965. They connect older adults and their families with a wide range of community-based services and can be one of the most valuable resources available to anyone navigating the challenges of aging.
What Area Agencies on Aging do
Area Agencies on Aging provide or coordinate a wide range of services and programs for older adults and their caregivers. Core functions include:
- Information and referral — providing information about available services and connecting older adults and families with the resources they need
- Care coordination and case management — assessing needs and developing care plans that coordinate services from multiple providers
- In-home services — arranging for services that help older adults remain safely in their homes including home care, home health care, personal emergency response systems, and home modification assistance
- Nutrition services — coordinating home delivered meals — commonly called Meals on Wheels — and congregate meal programs at senior centers and other community locations
- Transportation — arranging transportation to medical appointments, grocery stores, senior centers, and other destinations
- Caregiver support — providing information, counseling, respite care, and other support services to family caregivers through the National Family Caregiver Support Program
- Legal assistance — connecting older adults with legal aid services for issues such as benefits access, housing, and consumer protection
- Health and wellness programs — coordinating evidence-based health promotion and disease prevention programs including fall prevention, chronic disease self-management, and exercise programs
- Senior centers — supporting local senior centers that provide social activities, meals, health programs, and other services
- Long term care ombudsman — many AAAs house or coordinate with the local long term care ombudsman program which advocates for residents of nursing homes and assisted living facilities
- Elder abuse prevention — providing education, outreach, and coordination with Adult Protective Services to prevent and address elder abuse and exploitation
Who Area Agencies on Aging serve
Area Agencies on Aging primarily serve:
- Adults aged 60 and older — services are available to all older adults regardless of income though priority is given to those with the greatest economic and social need
- Adults with disabilities who need home and community based services
- Family caregivers of older adults and adults with disabilities
- Grandparents and other relative caregivers who are raising grandchildren or other young relatives
Many AAA services are provided free of charge or on a sliding scale based on income. No one is turned away from information and referral services regardless of income or circumstances.
How to contact your local Area Agency on Aging
The easiest way to find your local Area Agency on Aging is through the Eldercare Locator — a free nationwide service operated by the U.S. Administration on Aging:
- Visit eldercare.acl.gov
- Call 1-800-677-1116 — available Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern time
- Enter your zip code or city and state to find your local AAA and other community resources
You can also find your local AAA through the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging at n4a.org.
The Older Americans Act
Area Agencies on Aging were established by the Older Americans Act — OAA — which was signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1965. The OAA created a national network of organizations dedicated to supporting the independence and wellbeing of older Americans and has been reauthorized and expanded multiple times since its original passage.
The Older Americans Act funds a wide range of programs administered through the Aging Network including nutrition services, caregiver support, transportation, legal assistance, and elder abuse prevention. It is one of the most important pieces of federal legislation affecting older Americans.
The Aging Network
Area Agencies on Aging are part of a larger Aging Network that includes:
- Administration for Community Living — ACL — the federal agency that oversees the Aging Network and administers OAA funding
- State Units on Aging — state agencies that receive OAA funding from ACL and distribute it to local AAAs
- Area Agencies on Aging — local organizations that plan, coordinate, and provide services in their communities
- Local service providers — the organizations and individuals that actually deliver services to older adults and caregivers including home care agencies, meal providers, transportation services, and senior centers
This coordinated network ensures that services are available in every community across the country.
Specific programs coordinated by Area Agencies on Aging
Some of the most important programs coordinated by AAAs include:
- Meals on Wheels — home delivered meals for homebound older adults who are unable to prepare their own food
- National Family Caregiver Support Program — provides respite care, counseling, training, and other support to family caregivers
- Senior Medicare Patrol — a program that trains volunteers to help Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries prevent, detect, and report healthcare fraud
- State Health Insurance Assistance Program — SHIP — provides free unbiased Medicare counseling to beneficiaries and their families
- Evidence-based health programs — programs such as the Arthritis Foundation Exercise Program, Chronic Disease Self-Management Program, and fall prevention programs
- Long Term Care Ombudsman Program — advocates for the rights and wellbeing of residents of nursing homes and other long term care facilities
Why the Area Agency on Aging should be your first call
When an older adult or their family is facing challenges related to aging the Area Agency on Aging is often the best first call. AAA staff are knowledgeable about local resources and can quickly connect people with the services they need. Services are available at no cost or low cost and there is no eligibility screening required to receive information and referral services.
Whether you need help finding home care, arranging transportation, accessing nutrition services, supporting a family caregiver, or navigating Medicare the AAA can point you in the right direction.
Key terms to know
- Area Agency on Aging — AAA — a local organization that coordinates services and support for older adults and caregivers
- Older Americans Act — federal legislation that established the Aging Network and funds services for older Americans
- Aging Network — the national network of federal state and local organizations that provide services to older adults
- Eldercare Locator — a free service that connects older adults and families with local AAA resources
- National Family Caregiver Support Program — a federally funded program providing support services to family caregivers
- Long Term Care Ombudsman — an advocate for residents of nursing homes and other long term care facilities
- Administration for Community Living — ACL — the federal agency that oversees the Aging Network
Sources
- Administration for Community Living — eldercare.acl.gov
- National Association of Area Agencies on Aging — n4a.org
- Older Americans Act
- USA.gov — Eldercare
This article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or medical advice. Services available through Area Agencies on Aging vary by location. Contact your local AAA or call the Eldercare Locator at 1-800-677-1116 for information specific to your area.