As more Baby Boomers join the aging population and new concepts about aging are trending, the AAAs deliver services within a complex system to meet the specialized needs of older Kansans. Advocating for appropriate programs to deter from premature entry into a nursing home is a specialty of the AAA
The Area Agencies on Aging in Kansas are part of a national network of 629 AAAs and 246 Title VI organizations designated as the leaders on aging issues at the local level. Area Agencies on Aging were established under the Older Americans Act (OAA) in 1973 to respond to the needs of older adults and caregivers in every local community. AAAs are the “boots-on-the-ground” organizations charged with helping vulnerable older adults live with independence and dignity in their homes and communities. Locally managed with federal, state and local funding resources, service delivery decisions are made at the community level: often in the private homes of the individuals who need services. The AAA’s primary responsibilities include the following:
AAAs provide services that fall into five broad categories:
Focusing on the social drivers of health for older adults, including providing critical services such as nutrition, transportation, elder rights protections, caregiver support and health promotion
Nutritious meals at a congregate site (i.e. senior center, community center, church, etc.) or home-delivered based on an assessment of need
Attendant Care, Homemaker, Respite to help an older person remain in their home and avoid costlier forms of services or premature nursing facility stay.
Assisting Medicare beneficiaries with making an informed choice related to healthcare plan. Also includes assistance on identifying, detecting, and reporting fraud, waste, and abuse
Creating local information and referral/assistance (I&R/A) resources to help consumers access aging programs
A tenet of the Older Americans Act, providing information and assistance to support the customer's specific needs to remain the community with the right-touch services.
The Kansas Area Agencies on Aging deliver a core set of services: funding for nutrition programs (congregate and home-delivered), in-home and community access services, programs to support physical health and fitness, and services that assist individuals who are caregivers for older adults. As community needs were identified, AAAs responded by expanding services:
1989 Commissioned to oversee the Senior Care Act program
1994 Commissioned to perform Level I CARE assessments
1997 Designated single point of entry for older adults
1997 Started Targeted Case Management for frail elderly waiver until 2013
2008 Pilot of the Aging and Disability Resource Center (Northwest Kansas Area Agency on Aging, Central Plains Area Agency on Aging, and Independent Living Resource Center in Wichita)
2012 Contracted with KDADS for the Aging and Disability Resource Center
2020 Contracted with KDADS for Administrative Case Management
2024 Area Agencies on Aging are no longer designated as the Aging and Disability Resource Center, and the services are separated.
A field of sunflowers
Services to older Kansans, age 60 and older and their caregivers to age in place. Includes personal care, legal services, nutrition services, and other individualized services based on an assessment of need
Nutritious home-delivered and congregate meals to individuals age 60 and older
Supports and services, including exercise programs, self-management programs) in homes and local communities to empower people to live independently
Support to unpaid caregivers can include information, respite, assistance to access services, and caregiver training
Non-Medicaid, community-based services delivered to an individual age 60 and older with resources higher than Medicaid allows. Sliding scale fee applies.
Functional assessments to determine eligibility for aging services or entry into long-term care facilities
Intake, Medicaid Application Assistance, and Liaison assistance to access the Physical Disability waiver, Frail Elderly waiver, Brain Injury waiver, and PACE program after meeting functional eligibility.
Kansas Association of Area Agencies on Aging and Disabilities (k4ad)
2910 SW Topeka Blvd., Topeka, KS, 66611
We use cookies to analyze website traffic and optimize your website experience. By accepting our use of cookies, your data will be aggregated with all other user data.