title: Area agencies on aging: a community resource for patients and families.
abstract: This article presents an overview of the Older Americans Act (OAA) so that home health clinicians may become more knowledgeable about this healthcare legislation. The OAA was passed in 1965 and has evolved significantly over time. The purpose of the OAA is to help older adults maintain their highest level of functional activity to remain in their homes as long as possible. Embedded within the OAA are key programs and services for older adults called Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs). It is vital that home health clinicians understand how the AAAs can help their patients and families. This article educates clinicians about the available services that AAAs have to offer.
authors.affiliation: Goldfarb School of Nursing at Barnes-Jewish College, St. Louis, Missouri 63110, USA. jms0159@bjc.org
authors.forename: Judith
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Smith
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D017028:Caregivers / Q000191:economics; D005522:Food Services / Q000458:organization & administration; D006078:Government Programs / Q000458:organization & administration; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000191:economics; D006299:Health Services for the Aged / Q000191:economics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D006699:Home Care Services / Q000191:economics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D006801:Humans; D012040:Regional Health Planning / Q000191:economics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D014481:United States