Western Illinois Area Agency on Aging

WIAAA History

The Western Illinois Area Agency on Aging was founded in 1973 under an amendment to the Older Americans Act of 1965. The Act is a Federal law created to help older Americans live in their homes with safety and dignity as long as possible with appropriate services and support. There are approximately 629 area agencies across the nation, 13 in the State of Illinois. We are part of a vast, national network of services and programs to protect the rights and support the needs of older Americans. Our vision is to lead a network of community agencies to provide accessible, coordinated services for older adults & adults with disabilities to have independent, dignified lives.

Western IL Area Agency on Aging strives to achieve our mission and vision through our core values.

Core Values

• Advocacy- Ensure home based and community based services are available to the people we serve
• Leadership- Create a standard of excellence in advocacy and service delivery through effective collaboration Ethics & Integrity- Serve with consistent professionalism, honesty, respect & compassion
• Accountability – Be excellent stewards of federal, state and private resources
• Flexibility – Adapt to changing business landscapes, funding resources and the expanding populations served.

The Western Illinois Area Agency on Aging empowers and supports older adults, adults with disabilities, and their caregivers by providing quality services, resources, and opportunities to maintain independence and elevate quality of life. Our agency and our providers support older adults through nutrition services, family caregiver support, ombudsman, Senior Health Insurance Program (SHIP), Matter of Balance, transportation, and more.