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BACKGROUND AND HISTORY OF THE AGENCY ON AGING The Agency on Aging of South Central Connecticut, Inc. ("Agency on Aging"), incorporated in 1974 as South Central Connecticut Agency on Aging, Inc. or "SCCAA,", was the first established agency on aging in the state of Connecticut. It now acts in partnership with four other regional agencies on aging to serve the needs of elderly individuals throughout the state. In 1996, the Agency on Aging was awarded the south central region contract for the Connecticut Home Care Program for the Elderly (HCPE) through a competitive bid process. For the purposes of providing HCPE services, assumption of this contract expanded the agency’s original south central Connecticut service area by seventeen towns that lie in the eastern region of the state. PURPOSE The Older Americans Act intends that the Area Agency on Aging shall serve 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. MISSION The Agency on Aging's mission is "to provide a continuum of opportunities, care and support services that allow older Americans to remain in their homes and communities, avoiding unwanted and un-needed institutionalization, and to age in place with dignity, respect, and maximum independence." AGENCY IN BRIEF As a result of its planning, coordinative and advocacy functions, the Agency on Aging is a unique organization. The Agency on Aging occupies a vantage point that allows its staff to anticipate needs, assist in the development of existing and new programs, and monitor the efficacy of those programs over time. As an Area Agency on Aging, it is widely identified as the focal point for information, referral and direct service by diverse sources (e.g. the National ElderCare Locator, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the Social Security Administration, the State of Connecticut Department of Social Services and Infoline). Through its programs of direct service, the Agency on Aging represents a successful continuum. From the point of an initial inquiry through the Aging Resource Center or agency volunteer programs, eligible callers may be seamlessly directed to the Bridge or Statewide Respite Programs for short-term/immediate need intervention, then transitioned on to the Home Care Program for Elders as the application process is completed. This ensures that older adults are not lost in the cracks, and further promotes an overall screen for assistance that includes entitlements, medical insurance counseling, housing listings, and referrals to other community supports. The Agency on Aging also meaningfully participates in the regional elderly services network, with which it maintains extensive partnerships. The Agency on Aging’s efforts in this regard are both coordinative and direct. In an effort to facilitate good communication and promote collective problem solving, The Agency on Aging convenes the InterAgency Council and the Multi-Disciplinary Team for Elders (M-Team). The InterAgency Council brings together providers from all over the region to network and to learn from in-service training. The M-Team, an integral offshoot of the InterAgency Council, meets to discuss actual case studies and develop recommendations for better serving challenging clients. The Agency on Aging also maintains many direct connections to other providers through its individual programs. The Aging Resource Center is a conduit for connections with senior centers, municipal agents, Department of Social Services staff, caregiver groups, Infoline, and state/federal government. Additionally, the Agency on Aging home care programs maintain contracts with over one hundred providers of home health services. Through Older Americans Act grants oversight, the Agency on Aging monitors providers of services throughout the elderly services network. Further, RSVP places volunteers at meal sites, hospitals, museums, and non-profit agencies, just to name a few. Finally, the Agency on Aging has been responsible for successful operation of the south central Connecticut region Home Care Program since start-up and the transition of clients from its predecessor. By all measures of clinical competence, records review and client satisfaction, the Agency on Aging has been observably successful in its efforts. |
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