As a representative of New York State's mostly county-based office for aging, the Albany-based Association on Aging in New York advocates with the New York State Legislature to ensure the state's Area Agencies on Aging have adequate funding to meet demand for home- and community-based services for an ever expanding population of older New Yorkers. In addition, the Association provides the state's offices for aging with professional development and education that includes the annual Aging Concerns Unite Us (ACUU) conference, webinars, regional caregiver forums and a fall Leadership Institute. The ultimate goal of the Association on Aging in New York is to provide offices for aging with services and support to strengthen and expand long term services and supports to individuals so they may age in place in the community. The Association on Aging in New York receives support from Area Agency on Aging membership dues, New York State Office for the Aging grants and through Educational Program Sponsorships. Originally known as the New York State Association of Area Agencies on Aging, the Board of Directors approved a new name in 2013, the Association on Aging in New York, to create a more cohesive and inclusive network to address the diverse needs of an aging population, as well as individuals of all ages needing long term services and supports. The Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) were established under the Older Americans Act of 1965 to respond to the needs of Americans age 60 and over and do it by being the "go-to" for home and community-based services, such as home delivered meals, adult day services, legal services, personal emergency response systems and transportation. Their goal is to make it possible for aging Americans to live independently and with dignity in their homes and communities for as long as possible. Services provided through the AAAs (or offices for aging) are funded through the Federal Older Americans Act, New York State Office for Aging, county government, contributions from participating organizations and other sources. AAAs provide services directly and/or subcontract services through local providers. Their lower-cost long-term care model allows seniors and caregivers to obtain service referrals, program application assistance and information and access on a wide range of services locally. The community-based services and information and assistance currently provided through the current structure of the New York State Office for Aging (NYSOFA) and Area Agencies on Aging (AAA) reach almost 600,000 older new York State residents, 16 percent of the total 60-plus population. A population that's rising at a rate never before seen not only because of the Baby Boomers coming of age but also because people are living longer -- a positive trend for us all.
