Each May, we celebrate Older Americans Month to recognize and honor older Americans’ contributions, highlight aging trends and reaffirm commitments to serving the older adults in our communities. Led by the U.S. Administration for Community Living, this year’s theme—Power of Connection—focuses on the profound impact that meaningful connections have on the well-being and health of older adults.
In pursuit of meaningful connection, Community Care Corps grantees have provided over 28,000 hours of social support to older adults, adults with disabilities and family caregivers through their local volunteer models! To offer their communities powerful opportunities for connection, grantees coordinate caregiver support, mentoring, companionship and friendly visiting, and other social/recreational activities. In addition, grantees weave opportunities for connection into the many other forms of assistance they provide to deliver maximum impact and ensure their volunteer models are supporting the whole person, including the human need for connection.
As the national association representing and supporting the nation’s 600+ Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) and 290 Title VI Native American Aging Programs that serve millions of older adults, persons with disabilities and their caregivers, USAging and its members are dedicated to embodying this theme of meaningful connection.
AAAs are local leaders that develop, coordinate and deliver a wide range of home and community-based services, including information and referral/assistance, case management, home-delivered and congregate meals, in-home services, caregiver supports including respite, transportation, evidence-based health and wellness programs, and long-term care ombudsman programs. Below are fast facts about how AAAs support meaningful connection, optimal health and well-being[i]:
- 98 percent of AAAs have programs or activities to address the critical need for social engagement, including health and wellness activities, volunteer engagement opportunities for older adults, arts and creative activities, and technology engagement.
- 85 percent of AAAs use one or more methods to evaluate their social engagement programming.
- 69 percent of AAAs offer social engagement programming tailored to the needs of different communities, including older adults living in rural areas, racial or ethnic minority groups, people with disabilities, veterans, LGBTQ+ and more.
USAging is thrilled to partner with Oasis, Caregiver Action Network and Altarum, with funding through the U.S. Administration for Community Living (ACL), to support Community Care Corps grantees. Many AAAs have been and are current grantees, and others have served as valuable partners with deep connections to their communities and local values. To connect with the AAA and/or Title VI program in your area, contact the Eldercare Locator today!
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