Area Agency on Aging Receives National Award

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Free-Press-Release.com) August 20, 2009 -- St. Joseph. (August 7, 2009) – The Area Agency on Aging (AAA) in St. Joseph is the recipient of a 2009 Aging Innovations and Achievement Award. The National Association of Area Agencies on Aging (n4a) announced the recipients of the 2009 n4a Aging Innovations and Achievement Awards in July at its annual conference in Minneapolis, MN.

Newly confirmed U.S. Assistant Secretary for Aging, Kathy Greenlee presented the award to Lynn Kellogg, AAA Chief Executive Officer. The top four programs in the nation received monetary awards. The local Area Agency on Aging received one of those top awards for its Custom Care program.

Custom Care provides seniors and their adult children with consultative services around aging issues. Custom Care consultants are Registered Nurses or Social Workers who work with families to help individuals to remain as independent as possible in their home for as long as possible. Custom Care consultants provide everything from simple consultation to an in-depth assessment of an individual’s care needs, developing a care plan to meet those needs, arranging for services, and following up or monitoring that care.

“We’re proud to have pioneered this effort that expands the public’s access to aging and disability services,” said Kellogg. “With the addition of our Custom Care product we are able to assist families with very specialized services. A number of other programs we administer through government contracts have waiting lists, limited funding, or eligibility criteria that can delay prompt access to service. With Custom Care families can have immediate access to the expertise and assistance they need through a private pay service.”

The revenue generated through Custom Care allows the Area Agency on Aging to expand its service capacity to individuals of all income levels.
The Aging Innovations Awards recognize ground-breaking programs that are innovative and bring fresh ideas to aging programs. This awards program recognizes and showcases innovative and successful aging services programs that assist older adults and caregivers in communities across the country. The honored programs serve as models for other agencies looking for new approaches to serve the older population within their own communities.

The National Association of Area Agencies on Aging is the umbrella organization for the nation’s 629 Area Agencies on Aging and a voice for the 246 Title VI Native American aging programs in the U.S. The fundamental mission of the AAAs and Title VI aging programs is to provide services that make it possible for older individuals and adults with disabilities to remain in their homes, thereby preserving their independence and dignity. More information can be found at (www.n4a.org www.areaagencyonaging.org). The local Area Agency on Aging offers its Info-Line for Aging and Long-Term as a free public information service at 1-800-654-2810.