The 'aging network' is the term used to
describe the federal, state and local web of aging services nationwide
that are organized under the Federal Older Americans Act. The
collective mission of the aging network is to plan for and administer a
myriad of services that assist older adults in remaining in 'the
community' and living lives of dignity and security in the setting of
their choice.
AgeAdvantAge Area Agency on Aging, Inc. is
a non-profit agency that operates under a Board of Directors made up of
a representative from each of its 25 aging units. The agency also has
an Advisory Council that provides guidance to its Board on various
issues of interest to older adults. Members are actively engaged
in advocating for community based long term care programs, and funding
of those services, so that older adults have access to the assistance
they need to remain at home. Multi-county area agencies on aging
administer federal Older Americans Act funds as well as State of
Wisconsin General Purpose Revenue dollars (GPR) through contracts with
aging offices in their respective service areas.
In Wisconsin,
the organizational structure of the aging network includes the
Administration on Aging (AoA) at the federal level, the Bureau of Aging
and Disability Resources (BADR) at the state level (www.dhfs.state.wi.us/aging/index.htm), the Area
Agencies on Aging (AAAs) at the regional level and
Wisconsin's 72 County and 11 Tribal aging units (C/TAUs) at the local
level. Two of those counties, Dane and Milwaukee, are also
AAAs. Additionally, the aging network includes the many vendors
that contract locally with aging offices or area agencies on aging to
provide congregate or home delivered meals, transportation, caregiver
and other services to assist older adults in maintaining their
independence.
Multi-county AAAs
administer federal Older Americans Act funds, as well as State of
Wisconsin General Purpose Revenue dollars (GPR), through contracts with
aging offices and vendors in their respective planning and service areas (PSA).
County and
tribal aging offices are focal points for the communities they
serve in providing Information &
Assistance, Home Delivered and Congregate Meals (senior dining sites),
Transportation, Caregiver Support, Benefit Specialist services,
Volunteer opportunities and other programs serving persons age 60 and
older, their families and caregivers. Area agency on aging
staff provide technical and program planning assistance and support
to county and
tribal aging unit staff and their colleagues in the aging network.
The
aging network, nationwide, has seen dramatic success with implementing
the National Family Caregiver Support Program. This
initiative, funded with federal Older Americans Act allocations, has
enabled local aging offices to offer information and assistance,
caregiver training, in-home support services and respite to assist
spouses and partners, adult children and other family members who are
providing in-home long term care services to older adults. A
component of this program also allows funds to be used to assist
grandparents who are 55 years of age or older and are primary care
providers for
their minor grandchildren. This may include access to temporary
respite and other
services. For more information on caregiving please
visit the Administration on Aging's web site at
( http://www.aoa.gov/prof/aoaprog/caregiver/caregiver.asp ) or contact your
local county or tribal aging office.
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