Frequently Asked Questions
What are the primary responsibilities of the Area Agency on Aging?
Created by the Older Americans Act of 1965, Area Agencies on Aging perform a leadership role in the communities they serve by responding to the needs of the elderly as advocates, planners, funders and by providing education, information and referral services. Area Agencies on Aging work with both the public and private sectors to generate needed support to help older adults and their caregivers remain in the most desirable and least restrictive living arrangements.
Does the Area Agency on Aging provide or fund services?
The Area Agency on Aging both provides and funds services. The services provided include Information and Assistance, Case Management, CARE Assessment, Senior Health Insurance Counseling for Kansans (SHICK), and Program Development/Special Programs.

The Area Agency on Aging distributes federal, state, and, in some cases, local funds, which are primarily used as match dollars for the state and federal funds. We have a carefully designed contract selection process which is monitored by the Kansas Department of Aging, and we only contract with licensed home health agencies. All providers must meet the service specifications, designed to insure quality. The Area Agency on Aging contracts with multiple providers to allow for cost effectiveness, client needs, geographic and other considerations. We monitor providers through site visits, audits, reports, client satisfaction and other surveys.
What have been the Area Agency on Aging funding patterns for elderly services?
The federal funding from the Older Americans Act has not even kept up with inflation, much less with the increases in people needing services. This program, which was the only major funding source during the late 60s and through the 70s, is now about forty percent of the funds allocated by Area Agencies on Aging. Our two other funding sources are the state funded Senior Care Act, which utilizes a sliding fee scale after determining monthly income and liquid assets, and the Medicaid Frail Elderly Waiver for Home and Community Based Services (HCBS). This is a federally funded, state fund matched program.
Are you located in Canada?
No, we are located in the United States, in the state of Kansas. The city in Kansas we are located in is Ottawa.