About the Area Agency on Aging

The Mid-Florida Area Agency on Aging (MFAAA) d/b/a Elder Options is a non-profit private organization located in Gainesville . Elder Options is a locally controlled non-profit agency governed by a volunteer Board of Directors comprised of individuals who represent their respective county and interest in the planning and service area. It has been designated by the State of Florida since 1977 to plan, coordinate, and advocate on behalf of older persons. Elder Options serves as an advocate and a visible focal point to foster the development of coordinated and comprehensive services for older persons.

It works with federal, state and local officials; elderly constituents; service providers and the private voluntary sector to coordinate existing services and stimulate new ones. Elder Options develops service plans and awards financial assistance to local service provider agencies such as councils on aging and social service departments for the provision of direct services to older persons living in mid-Florida. These highly visible local organizations translate state and federal monies into tangible community-based services for older individuals. The Agency's three principal funding sources are:

(1) the federal Older Americans Act providing nutrition and supportive services; and
(2) the Florida Community Care for the Elderly (CCE) program providing home-based services as an alternative to institutional care; and
(3) Medicaid Waivers providing home and facility based services to eligible frail elders.

Elder Options serves as the designated Area Agency on Aging for the sixteen counties comprising "Planning and Service Area Three" (PSA3). These counties include: Alachua, Bradford, Citrus, Columbia , Dixie, Gilchrist, Hamilton , Hernando, Lafayette , Lake, Levy, Marion , Putnam, Sumter , Suwannee, and Union . PSA Three is the largest planning and service area in Florida spanning more than 11,000 square miles. It stretches from the Georgia border southward to the Orlando and Tampa metropolitan areas.

PSA Three is one of diversity. An analysis of county level data reveals some of the counties growing slowly, having lower per capita incomes, and containing small numbers of indigenous older residents. These counties are characterized by higher percentages of older persons who are poverty stricken, living in sub-standard housing, and isolated from health and human service facilities and services. Conversely, several of the 16 counties are heavily populated with older individuals. The older populations in Lake, Marion , Citrus, Hernando, Putnam, and Alachua Counties have higher per capita incomes, are experiencing rapid growth, and benefit from the relatively large supply of medical and other services found in growing population centers.