AREA AGENCY ON AGING REGION III NACOG

AGENCY SELF-DESCRIPTION:  Area Agency on Aging (Region II) NACOG serves clients in the four Northern Arizona counties of rural Arizona, excluding the reservations.  We are part of a national network of Area Agencies on Aging, established under the Older Americans Act of 1965 (OAA) to respond to the needs of Older Adults.  The Older Americans Act and Social Service Block Grants through the Social Security Act primarily fund the Area Agencies on Aging (AAA).  The Arizona Department of Economic Security, Division of Aging and Adult Services (DAAS) allocate funds on a regional basis to the AAA. Area Agency on Aging NACOG provides Medicare/Benefits Counseling, Assisted Living Facility/Centers Resident Advocacy through the Ombudsman Program, Information and Referral for older adults and professionals, Evidence-Based Health and Wellness which includes Nutrition, Family Caregiver Support Program, Care Coordination including Meals on Wheels and Personal Emergency Response Systems (PERS) for CST Monitoring Systems.  AAA NACOG's Family Caregiver Support Program offers Kinship Care Workshops and Kin Konnections Support Groups for relatives/non-relatives raising kids or grandparents raising grandchildren.  For grandparents over 55 years old caring for a child under 18; grandparents could qualify for respite services while attending support groups or workshop classes.  The classes cover navigating Department of Child Safety, Department of Economic Security and the Department of Corrections for anyone looking for information directly from partner organizations.  The supports offer a safe and open discussion forum based on the kinship caregiver's needs and access to available resources such as home repairs, trauma-based counseling services and advocacy for families involved in the court system.