AGENCY PROFILE (August, 2007)

Western Reserve Area Agency on Aging (WRAAA) is a private non-profit corporation, organized and designated by the State of Ohio to be the planning, coordinating and administrative agency for federal and state aging programs in Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, Lorain and Medina Counties. It is one of twelve Area Agencies on Aging in the state organized together with local service provider organizations and the Ohio Department of Aging to form the state's public aging network. The network works together to create opportunities for older Ohioan's to receive needed services and optimum care; and to age successfully in their own homes and communities.

A 21-member board of trustees governs the Agency. Eighteen of the trustees are appointed by the boards of county commissioners in the five counties served by WRAAA, ten representing Cuyahoga and two from each of the other four counties. The Board appoints three of the trustees as at-large members. The Board is advised by a regional advisory council comprised of two representatives from each of the five counties and eleven at large members. In 2007, WRAAA employed 211 full employees and had an operating budget of over $90 million.

Operating under the legislative authority of the federal Older American's Act (OAA), the WRAAA is responsible for a wide range of activities in support of older adults. Its major areas of responsibilities are to:

• Serve as an effective and visible advocate and focal point for the approximately 400,000 older adults, aged 60+ within its five county planning and service area;
• Identify the needs and concerns of older adults and create plans for collaboratively addressing the needs through systems of in-home and community-based services and other interventions which enable older adults to maintain their independence and dignity;
• Administer a wide variety of federal, state, local and private funds used to provide home and community-based services, care management and other supports and opportunities for older adults.

WRAAA is the local administrative agency for the federal Older Americans Act and several state aging programs including: the PASSPORT Homecare Program; the Assisted Living Program; the Residential State Supplement Program which subsidizes care in adult care facilities; the Long Term Care Consultation Program which assists families in planning for long-term care; and Universal Pre-Admission Screening of nursing home applicants.

WRAAA initiates and maintains services largely through contracts with local service providers. The Agency contracted with 240 different organizations in 2007 to provide 30 different services to address the needs of the community's older population. The Agency also monitors service providers to ensure services are delivered in an efficient and effective manner. WRAAA supported services fall in to four general categories: (1) access services; (2) community-based services; (3) in-home services; and (4) services to residents in facilities providing long-term care. Priority in service provision is given to those older adults who are socially and economically disadvantaged.

Under its Older Americans Act (OAA) Program, the Agency funds and coordinates a regional network of multi-purpose senior centers and specialized service providers to deliver needed home and community-based services which include: adult day care, meals, information & referral, escort, transportation, homemaker, chore, personal care, legal, long term care ombudsman, home repair, health promotion, protective, and volunteerism. The Agency also provides support to informal caregivers under the OAA funded Family Caregiver Support Program. The caregiving assistance includes training, education, counseling, support groups, information, respite and other supportive services. Through its PASSPORT Program, the Agency provides screening, assessment, care management, and home care services to frail and impaired older persons who are Medicaid eligible and qualify for a nursing home level of care. In May of 2007, the Agency was serving over 4,800 PASSPORT clients.

The Agency is also involved in a number of projects created in response to identified problems, needs and opportunities. Current projects focus on: HIV and older adults; the prevention of elder abuse; helping residents in senior housing access services; falls prevention; public benefits outreach and enrollment assistance; and the development of an Aging and Disabilities Resource Network to improve consumer access to long-term care.