A Friend Indeed

Area Agency on Aging enhances seniors’ lives

Tell us about your organization:

• Mission: We are a private, nonprofit organization that has been serving seniors in Baxter, Benton, Boone, Carroll, Madison, Marion, Newton, Searcy and Washington counties in Northwest Arkansas since 1979. We also provide services to military veterans and persons with disabilities. Our mission is to commit financial and human resources to enhance the lives of the Northwest Arkansas senior community.

• Services provided: We provide in-home non-medical personal care and homemaker services which allow seniors to remain safe in their homes. We offer durable medical equipment and incontinence supplies as well as personal emergency response systems (help buttons). We also administer short-term care programs to assist upon return home from the hospital if needed, and we offer many resources for caregivers, which include availability of funds from our Family Caregiver Grant. Our care coordinators provide case management services to assist clients with gaining access to community and governmental resources as well as being certified SHIP Medicare counselors for all existing and new Medicare beneficiaries free of charge. We manage 12 affordable senior housing complexes. In cooperation with [the Department of Human Services], we provide access to regional ombudsmen who advocate for seniors in long-term care and assisted living facilities. The AAANWA helped establish the first Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) in Northwest Arkansas. We operate wellness-certified senior centers which provide congregate and home-delivered meals, transportation, socialization and many activities. We are further committed to addressing senior hunger in our region by providing farmers market coupons and other nutritional resources to eligible seniors age 60-plus. We host the Senior Games in Harrison once each year, which is a fun day of competition for seniors that includes track and field, nail pounding, dominoes, archery, bowling and many other events.

• Who is eligible? We provide many services to all seniors who are age 60-plus and to those ages 21-59 with physical disabilities.

• How can services be accessed? By calling the AAANWA county branch office in your county of residence or by visiting our website at www.aaanwar.org for more information.

• What are your organization's most pressing needs? We need compassionate personal care assistants to work in the homes with our clients, and we will provide training to those who do not have it. Apply on our website at www.aaanwar.org. Medicaid reimbursement rates are not being sufficiently increased to account for recent minimum wage increases and increased administrative burdens. We always welcome monetary donations through our Area Agency on Aging Foundation at P.O. Box 1795, Harrison 72602. Donations can be designated for any service in any county, which can include our Client Emergency Fund, which provides funds to assist clients with utility bills, food, prescriptions or other needs.

• Are there volunteer opportunities in your organization? What are they? Yes. Our senior centers utilize volunteers to assist with Meals on Wheels and activities and fundraisers at the centers. We also welcome groups who volunteer to assist clients in their homes with installation of grab bars, building of ramps or other tasks. We can assist anyone who would like to become a volunteer SHIP Medicare counselor as well.

• Why do you work for a nonprofit organization? Do you have a personal connection to the mission? If so, what is it? I so much enjoy working with a nonprofit such as AAANWA because I get to see the direct impact we have on the lives of the elderly in our community every day. We are dedicated to providing the resources and support needed for senior citizens in all stages of their lives, and we take a comprehensive approach to meeting all of their needs.

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