Our History
Since 1975, USAging has represented Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) as they work to ensure every American can age with maximum health, well-being, independence and dignity. AAAs were established in 1973 as part of a reauthorization of the Older Americans Act (OAA). In 1978, funding targeted to Native American Tribes and groups was added, thus creating Title VI of the OAA. The association, USAging, was formed in 1975 to advocate and represent AAAs in Washington, DC; Title VI Native American aging programs became eligible USAging members in 1988. Advocacy remained the association’s primary mission until 1992, when USAging was awarded a grant from the U.S. Administration on Aging to establish a national call center to connect older adults and their caregivers to needed services at the community level; the Eldercare Locator remains administered by USAging today.
Since the early 2000s, USAging has also grown its work in research, training and technical assistance—conducting landmark surveys, operating several national resource centers that are building the capacity of AAAs and other aging and disability entities at the local level, operating two national call centers and much more. Our work continues to evolve to support our members in new and emerging areas, to help them better serve older adults, people with disabilities and caregivers, now and in the future.