For Immediate Release
July 20, 2021
Contact: Joellen Leavelle, jleavelle@n4a.org and 202.872.0888
 
WASHINGTON—Today, the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging (n4a) honored 36 successful programs created by Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) to support the unique and growing needs of older adults in their communities. The award-winning initiatives are recipients of 2021 n4a Aging Innovations and Achievement Awards, which were distributed at n4a’s Annual Conference and Tradeshow earlier today. The annual awards program, supported by iN2L, recognizes AAA and Title VI Native American Aging Program n4a members that have found new, successful—and often innovative—ways to address the needs of older adults, people with disabilities and caregivers as they live in their homes and communities for as long as possible.
 
“n4a is proud to recognize the innovative, successful and replicable programs and initiatives of our members through the Aging Innovations and Achievement Awards. We salute our winning members who have enhanced the value of this awards program by sharing their initiatives with their peers in the Aging Network,” said Sandy Markwood, Chief Executive Officer of n4a. “Our members work tirelessly, with little fanfare, in their communities, and this program enables us to shine a well-deserved spotlight on their critical work to support older adults, people with disabilities and caregivers,” said Markwood.
 
Speaking on behalf of iN2L, Lisa Taylor, CEO, said “iN2L is honored to sponsor the n4a Aging Innovations and Achievement Awards program, celebrating the work of Area Agencies on Aging and Title VI Native American Aging Programs to create innovative solutions that improve the quality of life of older adults. We congratulate and thank this year’s award recipients for their tireless commitment to testing the boundaries of what is possible in the design and delivery of programs that change lives. It is through the sharing and celebration of this innovative thinking that we can continue to inspire and encourage evolution and success across the entire Aging Network. Bravo!”
 
n4a presented 21 Aging Achievement Awards and 15 Aging Innovations Awards to programs in a variety of areas, including caregiving, healthy aging, nutrition, intergenerational programs and transportation. Descriptions of all 36 award-winning programs—and updates on how the programs have adjusted to the realities of COVID-19—can be found in n4a’s awards book. The following three programs were the highest-scoring Innovations winners and received cash awards: 
 
First place: Community Living Connections Collaborative Funding Process
AAA: Seattle Human Services Department, Aging and Disability Services, Seattle, WA
Category: Agency Operations

Description: With service gaps, no additional money to bring new providers on board and a need for an even stronger focus on meeting the Seattle Human Services Department, Aging and Disability Services’ (ADS) racial equity goals, ADS devised the Collaborative Funding Process. The Collaborative Funding Process is a new approach that enables community-based agencies to determine how they will collectively deliver services. Unlike a traditional funding process where the AAA or, in this agency’s case, a panel, makes funding recommendations, collaborative funding means agencies work together to decide funding allocations and service expectations. Over seven months, participating agencies met with a racial equity consultant as they identified funding and service delivery levels for each network provider agency.
 
Second place: Fairfax Caregiver Alert Notifications
AAA: Fairfax Area Agency on Aging, Fairfax, VA  
Category: Caregiving

Description: Caregiver Alert Notifications enable family caregivers to remain informed, obtain education and easily access programs and services offered by Fairfax Area Agency on Aging and other county departments via text messages, emails and/or voice communication. Caregivers subscribe to the AAA/Caregivers option through Fairfax Office of Emergency Management’s Fairfax Alerts System and receive weekly notifications with information about workshops, webinars, support groups and other supportive services.
 
Third place: Aging Roadmap
AAA: County of San Diego, Health and Human Services Agency—Aging and Independence Services, San Diego, CA
Category: Community Planning & Livable Communities

Description: The Aging Roadmap is San Diego County’s framework for building age-friendly communities and supporting the needs of older adults. Guided by the County of San Diego’s Aging and Independence Services, the Roadmap organizes the county’s comprehensive system of care into 10 priority areas (health and community support, housing, social participation, transportation, dementia-friendly, caregiver support, safety, preparedness and response, the silver economy, and medical and social services).

About n4a

The National Association of Area Agencies on Aging (n4a) is a 501(c)(3) membership association representing America’s national network of 622 Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) and providing a voice in the nation’s capital for the more than 260 Title VI Native American aging programs. n4a’s primary mission is to build the capacity of our members so they can help older adults and people with disabilities live with dignity and choices in their homes and communities for as long as possible. (www.n4a.org)