National Association of Area Agencies on Aging (n4a)
Announces 2006 Aging Innovations and Achievement Award Recipients

Recognizing innovative and successful aging programs that serve older adults in local communities across the country

Washington, D.C. - The National Association of Area Agencies on Aging (n4a) is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2006 n4a Aging Innovations and Achievement Awards. This awards program, open to n4a members only, recognizes and showcases innovative and successful aging programs that serve older adults in local communities across the country.

The Aging Innovations Awards recognize ground-breaking and successful programs, ranging from educating Medicare beneficiaries, family members and caregivers about the new Medicare prescription drug program; providing essential volunteer-based support services that help older adults remain in their homes; and creating a local aging network to serve the Latino community.

“The AAAs and Title VI programs make a huge difference in the lives of older adults. These professionals are on the front lines of aging. They provide services that help frail older people stay in their homes, they help others stay healthy and active, and they assist caregivers helping their older loved ones,” stated Sandy Markwood, n4a’s CEO.

The 650 AAAs and 240 Title VI programs, leaders of aging services in local communities throughout the U.S., collectively serve over 8 million older Americans and their caregivers each year through home delivered meals, home health care, senior center services, care management, caregiver respite and an array of other support services.

The honored programs will serve as models for other agencies looking for new and innovative approaches to care for the older population within their communities. The need for successful, cost-effective aging programs is especially important in light of the wave of aging baby boomers expected to require such services in the years ahead.

“n4a is pleased to recognize and highlight successful aging programs that are meeting the needs of older adults across America every day. By giving national attention to the awardees, n4a hopes that these innovative and cost-effective programs will be replicated in communities across the country,” said Donna Harvey, the President of the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging (n4a) and the Executive Director of the Hawkeye Valley AAA in Waterloo, Iowa.

Aging Innovations Awards, the highest honor, will be presented to:

• Baltimore County Department of Aging/Towson, Maryland for the Medicare Prescription Drug Outreach Campaign (a business/non-profit partnership developed to educate constituents and provide enrollment assistance)
  
  
  
• Boulder County Aging Services Division/Boulder, Colorado for Project Visibility (a cultural-competency training program created to educate and sensitize service providers about issues facing Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) older adults)
  
  
  
• Fairfax Area Agency on Aging/Fairfax, Virginia for Cluster Care Volunteer Program (an initiative that provides valuable support services to ensure that clients can remain in their homes as long as possible)
  
  
  
• Jefferson Area Board for Aging/Charlottesville, Virginia for Mountainside Senior Living (an assisted living facility owned and operated by the AAA to ensure over 140 low-income seniors continued affordable housing)
  
  
  
• Milwaukee County Department on Aging/Milwaukee, Wisconsin for the Latino Aging Network (a partnership of community-based organizations established to address the specific needs of the Latino aging community)
  
  
  
• Southern Maine Agency on Aging/Scarborough, Maine for A Matter of Balance – A Volunteer Lay Leader Model (a community-based training program created to assist with fall prevention among older adults)

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The National Association of Area Agencies on Aging (n4a) represents the nation’s 650 Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) and is the champion in Washington for the 240 Native American aging programs. AAAs and Title VI programs have more than 30 years of experience administering and coordinating services for other adults.

AAAs, the leaders of the local aging network in communities across the country, provide assistance to help older adults remain living independently in their home. By planning, coordinating and offering services like home delivered meals, transportation, health insurance counseling, and home health services, the AAAs and Title VI programs make independent living a viable option for millions of older adults each year. By making a range of options available, AAAs make it possible for older individuals to choose the services and living arrangements that best suit their needs.