Make Your Voice Heard: Advocacy Takes Us All
By Alexandra Newman Throughout my time working at Area Agency on Aging (AAA), I have met many wonderful people who credit us with helping them to stay living independently in their homes. Just last week I spoke with a woman, Julie, who cares for her 90-year-old aunt. She told me, “Following a serious illness that required surgery and a lengthy stay in a nursing facility, my aunt’s greatest wish […]
From kitchen tables to a community promise
Honoring the goals of older adults and people with disabilities, one conversation at a time By Christine Vanlandingham Every person deserves dignity, independence, and choice—especially as we age or live with a disability. These aren’t luxuries; they’re the foundation of a life well lived. Yet for too many older adults, those principles can feel fragile—eroded […]
Older Americans Act is worth celebrating – July 12, 2025
By Lynn Kellogg July 14 marks the 60th anniversary of the national Older Americans Act (OAA). Five national organizations championing the cause of the older population have come together to declare July 14 a Day of Action and awareness of the tremendous impact of the OAA. The organizations: ADvancing States, National Association of Nutrition and Aging Services Programs […]
Changes in Washington could affect elder care – April 19, 2025
By Lynn Kellogg Congress has critical budget decisions to make on how to spend reduced dollars. It’s a daunting task without knowing the intricacies of the programs and interests affected. Big-ticket items dramatically affecting our elder population are in play: the Older Americans Act (OAA), Medicaid and Medicare. Within these structures, key programs exist to save money […]
Advocacy is important and you can help – March 15, 2025
By Lynn Kellogg Before retirement, one of my roles at Region IV Area Agency on Aging was non-partisan political advocacy. Serving people 18 and over, the agency develops products, businesses and services to assure people from all walks of life have the support and choices they need to maintain as independent a lifestyle as possible throughout […]
Advocacy needed to support family caregivers – Feb. 22, 2025
By Christine Vanlandingham In tough budget climates, there is a strong business case for supporting family caregivers. Employee turnover is a costly issue for US businesses. According to the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), replacing an employee can cost between 50% to 60% of their annual salary. For employees who are caregivers, the stress […]
Self-advocacy benefits community – Christine Vanlandingham – April 20, 2024
Older adults are a significant and growing segment of the population, with diverse interests, abilities and needs. They have the right to participate in the decisions that affect their lives, and to advocate for their own well-being and dignity. However, many older adults face barriers to self-advocacy, such as lack of information, access, resources, or […]
A hopeful spring – Alexandra Newman – April 13, 2024
When people ask me how I am doing these next two months, the answer is going to be: busy. Now, I keep myself busy most of the year, but April and May at Area Agency on Aging (AAA) are a special kind of busy, in a great way. To summarize, here’s a list of what […]
Harness your curiosity, be an advocate – Alexandra Newman – Oct. 21, 2023
Advocating for older adults and people with disabilities is one of our pillars at Area Agency on Aging. We do this in a number of ways throughout the year on the federal, state and local levels to get more funding, raise awareness or pass legislation. But last week, I interviewed an older couple who reminded me […]