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Adults aged sixty (60) and over are the fastest growing segment of this country’s population. In order to serve America’s senior citizens, The Older Americans Act was passed in 1964. Its’ purpose is to provide unified delivery of publicity funded services to mature adults. Some of these services include:

• Nutrition Services

• In-home assistance for the frail senior

• Protection of the rights of senior citizens

The Older Americans Act was implemented through the creation of 670 regional and local Area Agencies on Aging to coordinate and administer service delivery. The state of Georgia has twelve (12) regional AAAs. The River Valley Area Agency on Aging, located in Columbus, serves the seniors of the West Central Georgia area. A key component of this service delivery is to provide Georgians with current, accurate, unbiased information about any and all resources and services available to them.

A trained specialist in our River Valley Area Agency on Aging office will answer any questions and open the gateway to senior services available in our area. The phones are staffed Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm Eastern Standard Time. We have voice mail available during off hours so that a person may leave a message.


Community Care Services Program

As a waivered program from the administrative and fiscal authority of The Department of Community Health Division of Medicaid, the Community Care Services Program (CCSP) is an alternative to long term nursing home placement that helps the functionally impaired elderly carry out their choice to live at home (or with a caregiver) or in the community through a coordination of services and care. Appropriate quality services are delivered in a cost effective manner through the coordination of a range of community resources and Medicaid services. The services offered through this program are: home delivered meals, adult day health, alternative living services, personal support services, and respite services (short-term, temporary care for physically or mentally limited people).

Eligibility for the Community Care Service Program depends on these few factors: A person with Medicaid might be eligible, if he/she needs nursing home level of care (This is decided by the applicant, doctor, and a CCSP Care Coordinator), or if a person is physically or mentally limited (not able to do normal activities of daily living).

Search for our on-line resources www.georgiaservicesforseniors.org

Call your local Area Agency on Aging at 1-866-552-4464 for further information.