The East Alabama Regional Planning and Development Commission Area Agency on Aging performs three important activities for older Alabamians in the East Alabama region:
- Serves as an advocate on behalf of all older persons within the service area.
- Identifies the needs of the elderly and plans for meeting those needs through a system of in-home and community-based services which enable the elderly to maintain their independence and dignity.
- Administers a wide variety of federal, state, local, and private funds which support those services.
The EARPDC Area Agency on Aging maintains services either through local contracts or by direct service provision and assists in the coordination of a variety of aging service programs with other agencies throughout the 10-county area. These services include:
- Health and Fitness Programs
- Homemaker/Personal Care Services
- Home Repair and Chore Services
- Health Insurance Counseling
- Prescription Drug Assistance
The EARPDC Area Agency on Aging is part of a nationwide Network on Aging under the direction of the U.S. Administration on Aging. The primary responsibility of the Area Agency on Aging is the implementation of the Older Americans Act of 1965, as amended, and assisting in the administration of state programs under the supervision of the Alabama Department of Senior Services and local programs serving older Alabamians.
The Commission currently funds 44 senior centers placed in communities throughout the region. These centers are operated by local governments under contractual agreements. The Commission also contracts for special services with the Alabama Institute for the Deaf and Blind.
The Commission operates “SenioRx”, a prescription drug assistance program providing long term medications to seniors throughout the region.