About the
Upper Arkansas
Area Agency on Aging

Our Mission

The Upper Arkansas Area Agency on Aging will assist seniors (age 60+) throughout the region in maintaining health, dignity, independence and quality of life through education, advocacy, coordination and delivery of services and programs.

Our Vision

United together to achieve a better future for our communities and the seniors we serve.

Who is eligible?

All persons 60 years of age or older. The grandparent caregiver program is ages 55 and older. Priority is given to those in greatest need.

Regional Advisory Council

Meetings of the Regional Advisory Council are open to the public and are held the 2nd Tuesday of every other month. The Advisory Council, appointed by the Upper Arkansas Area Council of Governments Board of Directors, is a voluntary group of citizens, who provide information, guidance, advice and support to the Upper Arkansas Area Agency on Aging to plan, develop, coordinate and administer funding and services to older persons in Lake, Chaffee, Custer and Fremont Counties. They also serve as a critical link between the Upper Arkansas Area Agency on Aging and older adults in the community.

Please contact the Upper Arkansas Area Agency on Aging at aaareg13@amigo.net for meeting times and locations.

A Link to Services for
Older Adults and
their Caregivers

Whether you or someone you know is an older adult, or a caregiver concerned about the well-being and independence of an older adult, the Area Agency on Aging (AAA) is ready to help. The Upper Arkansas Area Agency on Aging serves communities Lake, Chaffee, Custer and Fremont counties, and coordinates services that help older adults remain in their home – if that is their preference – aided by services such as Meals-on-Wheels, homemaker assistance and whatever else it may take to make independent living a viable option. By making a range of options available, the Upper Arkansas Area Agency on Aging makes it possible for older individuals to choose the services and living arrangement that suit them best.

Our agency offers programs that make a difference in the lives of all older adults…from the frail older person who can only remain at home if they receive the right services to those who are healthy and can benefit from the activities and socialization provided by community-based programs such as the agencies “Well Over 60” Health Education & Exercise Programs.

The Upper Arkansas Area Agency on Aging was established under the Older Americans Act (OAA) in 1973 to respond to the needs of Americans aged 60 and over in every local community.

The services available through the Upper Arkansas Area Agency on Aging fall into five broad categories:

1. Information and Access Services

2. Community-Based Services

3. In-Home Services

4. Housing and Elder Rights

5. National Family Caregiver Support Program

Within each category a range
of programs is available.

Information and Access Services

• Information and Referral/Assistance – a source for locating services available from a AAA or from another service agency in the community.

• Health Insurance Counseling – helps beneficiaries understand their options and rights under Medicare & Medicaid and obtain information on other insurance alternatives.

• Client Assessment – a determination of the client’s needs and eligibility for services.

• Transportation – rides to critical destinations such as a doctor’s office or the grocery store.

• Caregiver Support – education and resources that enable caregivers to provide care for an older family member while maintaining their own quality of life.

• Retirement Planning and Education – help for older adults as they prepare for their retirement, with a focus on issues such as health concerns, legal issues, and work and leisure options.

Community-Based Services

• Employment Services – a way to help the individual find meaningful work, including assessment, testing, job counseling, education and placement.

• Senior Centers – a gathering place where older adults can enjoy social, physical and recreational activities. Senior Centers may serve as congregate meal sites.

• Congregate Meals – group meals served at senior centers, or other sites for the purpose of providing a nutritious meal in a social environment.

• Volunteer Opportunities – a way for healthy older adults to continue to contribute to their community.

In-Home Services

• Meals-on-Wheels – mid-day meals delivered to individuals who cannot shop or prepare their own meals, often by a volunteer who also provides a sense of security and social contact to a homebound individual.

• Homemakers – assistance with tasks essential to maintaining a household, such as food shopping and housekeeping.

• Chore Services – a step beyond homemaking - includes minor home repairs, yard work and general home maintenance.

• Friendly Visiting – periodic neighborly visits to homebound older adults to provide social contact and reassurance.

• Emergency Services –providing emergency funding for out of the ordinary unexpected expenses.

• Personal Care Services – assistance with bathing, feeding, walking and other daily activities.

• Respite Care – a break for family members from care giving responsibilities for a short period of time.

Elder Rights

• Legal Assistance – advice and counsel for older persons and their families faced with financial and legal concerns.

• Elder Abuse Prevention Programs – designed to alleviate situations of abuse, neglect or self-neglect; includes programs such as adult protection and guardianship/conservatorship.

• Ombudsmen Services for Complaint Resolution – ombudsmen investigate and, when possible, resolve complaints made by or on behalf of older adults who are residents of long-term care facilities.

 

The wide range of services and funding sources managed by the Upper Arkansas Area Agency on Aging enables us to direct consumers to service choices that meet an individual’s needs. The agency plays a pivotal role in assessing community needs and developing programs that respond to those needs. The agency also advocates for improved services for older persons and their families. The AAA often serves as a portal to care, assessing multiple service needs, determining eligibility, authorizing or purchasing services and monitoring the appropriateness and cost-effectiveness of services. The Upper Arkansas Area Agency on Aging provides direct services and contracts with local providers to furnish other services in the community.

The AAA supports a range of home and community based services although these services may vary across communities. While there is much consistency in the types of essential home and community-based services available these services are customized to reflect varying local needs and resources.

The experience and knowledge
to make the right link

The Upper Arkansas Area Agency on Aging has more than 25 years experience administering and coordinating services for older adults. And, as the population has changed over time – with people living longer but facing chronic illness and frailty our services have evolved to meet these new and more challenging needs.

The AAA coordinates the provision of low-cost, comprehensive, quality care to thousands of older persons throughout the region by helping them and their families navigate a complex system of services. We strive to maximize service potential and avoid duplication of effort. We also collaborate with other groups to sponsor events of interest to older adults and their caregivers.

For years, the Upper Arkansas Area Agency on Aging has skillfully managed care for vulnerable populations by maximizing private and public resources to ensure that essential services are available to minority, frail and low-income older persons in need of comprehensive long term care.

Our agency provides security to family members of all ages who know that their loved one’s choices and preferences will be given the highest priority.

Our Funding Source:
The Older Americans Act

In response to the growing number of older people and their diverse needs, the Older Americans Act of 1965 was enacted to provide a range of programs to older Americans, especially those at risk of losing their independence. The Act is intended to assist elderly Americans to live independently in their own communities by removing barriers to independent living and provide continual care for vulnerable older individuals.

In addition to administering the Older Americans Act grant funds for services in Lake, Chaffee, Custer and Fremont Counties the Area Agency on Aging also receives funding from the State of Colorado to administer the Older Coloradans Programs.

The Area Agency on Aging is a non-profit organization and therefore relays on individual contributions that enable the agency to continue to provide seniors with services they may otherwise not receive.