It’s Time We Looked Under the Hood: An In-Depth Examination of Five Public California Area Agencies on Aging

Abstract

Background and Objectives As the older adult population grows, it is important to understand the effectiveness of service delivery systems that support aging in place. Studying service delivery processes and organizational structures of Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) is essential for future efforts to understand service delivery outcomes and innovations. Research Design and Methods We conducted site visits with five government-run California AAAs. We used template and constant comparative analysis to analyze transcripts from site visits and focus groups with key informants. Results AAA representatives discussed how their organizational structure was related to 1) which services and programs they provided; 2) administrative cost savings and access to funding sources; 3) inter- and intra-agency coordination; and 4) visibility among clients and community partners. Discussion and Implications These findings can be used to guide decisions surrounding how changes in AAA structure may impact funding, coordination, service delivery, and visibility, among other factors. Consolidating the AAA with other departments and programs facilitates coordination and shared administrative costs, yet consolidation may reduce standalone AAAs’ visibility and ability to innovate. AAA structure should be tailored to fit community resources, local government organization, and the needs of older residents.

Primary care physicians' perspectives and challenges on managing multimorbidity for patients with dementia: a Japan–Michigan qualitative comparative study

“…There were systems or organizations in Japan and Michigan that have been established to serve this purpose, such as Japan’s community-based integrated care system [ 40 ] or Area Agency on Aging in Michigan [ 55 ]. However, the cooperation with those organizations and medical institutions are still in the developmental stages [ 56 , 57 ]. For caring community dwelling older adults with multimorbidity including dementia, the collaboration needs to be promoted with more access to relevant information.…”