WHO WE ARE
The Area Agency on Aging for Lincolnland is a planning and
service agency designated by the Illinois Department on Aging
to develop programs and support services for persons 60 years
and older and family caregivers. Our purpose is to help older
adults live and age well. As an area-wide focal point for the
aging network, the Area Agency works to create an awareness
of aging and caregiving issues and encourages the development
and coordination of services to address those issues.
The Area Agency on Aging is a private, not-for-profit organization
governed by a Board of Directors and assisted by an Advisory
Council whose members reside throughout the twelve-county service
area.
The Area Agency on Aging for Lincolnland is one of more than
650 Area Agencies across the nation and thirteen in Illinois
and serves as the local link to that network.
WHAT WE DO
With state and federal funding received through the Illinois
Department on Aging, the Area Agency on Aging for Lincolnland
awards grants and contracts to local service providers throughout
the area for a variety of services. Funded services include
Routine Health Screenings, Transportation, Congregate and Home
Delivered Meals, Information and Assistance, In-Home Respite,
Caregiver Counseling, Legal Assistance, Long Term Care Ombudsman,
and Medication Management. Most of these services are available
in each of the twelve counties served by the Area Agency.
The Area Agency directly provides Information and Assistance,
Caregiver Training and Education, and a Senior Employment Program.
The Area Agency and its network of service providers have been
active in efforts to assist older persons and persons with disabilities
to enroll in Illinois pharmaceutical assistance programs and
Medicare Part D.
The Area Agency fulfills administrative responsibilities for
the Illinois Department on Aging’s Elder Abuse and Neglect
Program and Community Care Program.
There is no charge for the services funded by the Area Agency
on Aging for Lincolnland, but voluntary contributions to the
service provider agency are accepted. Such donations are used
by the programs to provide additional service.
In FY 2009, 12,010 identified, unduplicated persons participated
in one or more of the services funded through the Area Agency
on Aging. Many of these individuals received more than one type
of service and a large number of unidentified persons also received
service, either as part of a group or as an anonymous caller
for Information and Assistance.
ABOUT THE AREA
We serve the counties of Cass, Christian, Greene, Jersey, Logan,
Macoupin, Mason, Menard, Montgomery, Morgan, Sangamon, and Scott.
Approximately 88,517 persons over the age of 60 reside within
the twelve counties served by the Area Agency on Aging for Lincolnland.
This group represents 19.4% of the total population of the area.
The area is predominantly rural, although four counties (Jersey,
Macoupin, Menard, and Sangamon) are included in Metropolitan
Statistical Areas by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget.
Transportation to services and resources is a major need for
many of the older residents of the area.
MISSION
The Older Americans act intends that the Area Agency on Aging
shall be the leader relative to all aging issues on behalf of
all older persons in the planning and service area. This means
that the Area Agency shall proactively carry out, under the
leadership and direction of the State Agency (Illinois Department
on Aging), a wide range of functions related to advocacy, planning,
coordination, inter-agency linkages, information sharing, brokering,
monitoring and evaluation, designed to lead to the development
or enhancement of comprehensive and coordinated community based
systems in, or serving, each community in the planning and service
area. These systems shall be designed to assist older persons
in leading independent, meaningful and dignified lives in their
own homes and communities as long as possible.
PURPOSE
To help older adults live and age well.
