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What Is an AAA?

An older couple jogging together on a forest trail

What Is an Area Agency on Aging?

Supporting independence, connecting services, and strengthening communities for older adults.

Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) were established under the Older Americans Act of 1973 to help older adults maintain independence, dignity, and quality of life. Today, AAAs also serve adults with disabilities, helping individuals remain safely in their homes and engaged in their communities.

AAAs operate under guidance from the federal Administration for Community Living and, in North Carolina, the Division of Aging within the Department of Health and Human Services.

What Do AAAs Do?

Across the country, more than 600 AAAs design and deliver services tailored to the needs of their local communities. While each agency operates differently, all AAAs are responsible for five core service areas:

  • Supportive Services (Transportation, In-Home Assistance, and More)
  • Nutrition Programs (Meals and Nutrition Support)
  • Elder Rights (Protecting Safety, Dignity, and Access to Services)
  • Caregiver Support (Resources and Respite for Family Caregivers)
  • Health and Wellness Programs
Older adults stretching in a seated exercise class
An older woman hugging her husband from behind on a sunny patio

Services in
North Carolina

High Country Area Agency on Aging is one of 16 AAAs in North Carolina. In addition to core services, North Carolina AAAs also support:

  • Home and Community-Based Services
  • Regional Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program
  • Local Contact Agency (LCA) services
  • NC Senior Tar Heel Legislature
  • Regional Aging Advisory Committees

Why AAAs Matter

The need for aging services is growing rapidly. By 2030, nearly 3 million North Carolinians and 70 million Americans will be age 60 or older — more than double the number in 2000.

AAAs play a critical role in helping meet this need by providing home and community-based services that allow older adults to remain where they prefer to be — at home. In fact, most older adults say they want to age in place, maintaining independence and connection to their communities.

These services not only improve quality of life, but also offer a cost-effective alternative to institutional care, often helping delay or prevent the need for nursing home placement.

An older couple laughing together outdoors