Area Agency on Aging

Our Mission

The mission of the Region A Area Agency on Aging is to assure that every older person in the region has the opportunity to live life to the fullest in the least restrictive setting possible.

Our Purpose

The Area Agency on Aging ( AAA) works on behalf of older adults and their caregivers in the seven southwestern counties of North Carolina. The Southwestern Commission Area Agency on Aging was established in 1980 as mandated by the 1977 Amendments of the Older Americans Act in order for a Planning and Service Area (PSA) to receive funds from the Act.

The AAA prepares a four year work plan, the latest covering the period July 1, 2020 to June 30, 2024. The AAA assists counties as they study the needs of older adults and plan to meet those needs. The goal of all these plans is to enable older adults to live independently in their own homes for as long as possible.

2020-2024 Aging Services Plan

View the statewide aging services response to COVID-19.

View the 2022 Aging Conference Recordings

Our Service Area

Our region covers southwestern N.C including the counties of Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Jackson, Macon, Swain and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.

Direct Services

THE FAMILY CAREGIVER SUPPORT PROGRAM

The goal of the Family Caregiver Support Program (FCSP) is to provide caregivers with the needed support to reduce depression, anxiety, and stress and enable them to provide care longer, thereby avoiding or delaying the need for costly institutional care.  Click for more information.

Family Caregiver Resource Coordinator
Kellie Dula
828.565.1826
[email protected].

THE LONG TERM CARE OMBUDSMAN PROGRAM

The Regional Long Term Care Ombudsman works closely with Community Advisory Committees for Long Term Care to serve as a link between the local communities and the long-term health care facilities in each county. Click for more information. 

Long Term Care Ombudsman 
Anna Rogers
828.586.1962 ex. 223
[email protected].

SENIOR MEDICARE PATROL PROGRAM

The Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) is a preventive educational program whose goal is to reduce Medicare error, fraud, and abuse.  Click for more information.

Family Caregiver Resource Coordinator
Kellie Dula
828.565.1826
[email protected].

THE HEALTH PROMOTION PROGRAM

The Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Programs provide adults with evidence-based techniques and strategies to delay and/or manage chronic health conditions and include activities that promote:  improved nutrition, emotional and social well-being, physical fitness and fall prevention to help older adults and their caregivers better manage their health.  Click for more information.

THE LEGAL PROGRAM

The Legal Program provides vouchers to eligible seniors age 60 and over, which are valid for the preparation of either a durable Power of Attorney or a simple Last Will & Testament.  Click for more information.

Aging Programs Assistant
Pat Baker
828-586-1962, ext. 209
[email protected].

SENIOR HEALTH INSURANCE INFORMATION PROGRAM

SHIIP counsels Medicare beneficiaries and their caregivers on the following topics: Medicare, Medicare Supplements, Medicare Advantage, Medicare Part D, and Long-term Care Insurance.  

Click for more information.

*For more information about any of the services listed contact the Region A Area Agency on Aging at 828.586.1962

Contracted Services

By law, the AAA contracts out most of the actual operation of the services to Human Service Agencies in the area. The major portion of the services provided to meet the goal of keeping seniors independent and in their own homes are funded through the Home and Community Care Block Grant (HCCBG). This Block Grant consists of approximately 60% Federal Older Americans Act Funds and 40% State appropriated funds. Below is a list of HCCBG providers contracted with the Area Agency on Aging and the services they provide.

Cherokee County Senior Services
Nutrition Services: Congregate and Home Delivered Meals; Housing and Home Improvement
Denise Cross, Director
[email protected]
828.837.2467

Cherokee County Transit
Transportation
Jennifer West, Director
[email protected]
828.837.1789

Cherokee County DSS
In-Home Aide – Level I
Daunita Maennle, Adult Services Supervisor
[email protected]
828.837.7455

Clay County Senior Center
Nutrition Services: Congregate and Home Delivered Meals; Supplemental Meals
Becky Grindstaff, Director
[email protected]
828.389.9271

Clay County Transportation
General Transportation
Marie Gunther, Director
[email protected]
828.389.0644

Clay County DSS
In-Home Aide – Level I
Deborah Mauney, Director
[email protected]
828.389.6301

Graham County Senior Center
Nutrition Services: Congregate and Home Delivered Meals
Wanda Hill, Director
[email protected]
828.479.7977

Haywood County Health & Human Services
Nutrition Services: Home Delivered Meals; Adult Day Care and Adult Day Health
828.452.6620

Mountain Projects, Inc.
Information, Assistance, and Options Counseling; Housing and Home Improvement; General Transportation; In-Home Aide Level I; Senior Companion; Nutrition Services; Congregate Meals
Patsy Davis, Director
[email protected]
828.452.1447

Jackson County Department on Aging
Nutrition Services: Congregate and Home Delivered Meals; Supplemental Meals; Housing and Home Improvement; Adult Day Care; Information, Assistance, and Options Counseling
Eddie Wells, Director
[email protected]
828.586.5494

Jackson County Transit
General Transportation
Norma Taylor, Director
[email protected]
828.586.0233

Harris Home Health
In Home Aide, Level I & II
Taylor McClure, Director
[email protected]
828.586.7881

Macon County Senior Services
Nutrition Services: Congregate and Home Delivered Meals; Adult Day Care; Information, Assistance, and Options Counseling
Jennifer Hollifield, Senior Services Director
[email protected]
828.349.2058

Macon County Transit
General Transportation
Kim Angel, Director
[email protected]
828.349.2222

State of Franklin Services to Senior Citizens
Nutrition Services: Congregate and Home Delivered Meals; General Transportation
Marlene Vinson, Director
[email protected]
828.488.3047

Swain County Health Department
In-Home Aide Level I & II
Suzanne Howard
[email protected]
828.488.3198