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About AOoA

Leading in a Changing Landscape

The Area Office on Aging of Northwestern Ohio, Inc. promotes the health, well-being and safety of older adults, persons with disabilities and family caregivers to foster independence.

Over Three Decades of Growing to Meet the Needs of Older Adults

The Area Office on Aging provides you and your loved ones with the quality services that allow you to be as independent as possible; empowering you to live your life to the fullest. Each year, over 40,000 older northwest Ohioans are served through the Area Office on Aging and its network of 180 providers.

Board of Directors

Chairman: Bill Harris
Vice Chairman: Rollie Abel
Treasurer: Susan Dorfmeyer Strup
Secretary: Jim Fails

Immediate Past Board Chairman: Phil Walton

Rollie AbelLucas CountyRetired Banker and Community Leader
Rabbi Yossi ShemtovLucas CountyChabad House of Toledo

Rebecca Facey

Lucas County

Lucas County Assistant Prosecutor

Vallie Bowman-EnglishLucas CountyClerk of Toledo Municipal Court
Jim FailsSandusky CountyRetired Teacher
Bill HarrisLucas CountyFinancial Consultant
Lewis D. HilkertWilliams CountyCommissioner
Mark HoltsberryPaulding CountyCommissioner
Usevio TorresLucas CountyLucas County Deputy Sheriff

Belen Contreras

Erie County

Social Security Administration Manager

Anita MadisonLucas CountyRetired Toledo Police Officer
Rev. Barbie HarrisonLucas CountyRetired Big Brothers and Big Sisters Executive





Glenn MillerHenry CountyCommissioner

Dana Phipps

Defiance CountyCommissioner
Ben RobisonWood CountyWood County Health Commissioner
Jon RuppFulton CountyCommissioner

Dr. Phung Vo

Lucas County

Retired Physician

Susan Dorfmeyer StrupLucas CountyCommunity Leader/Businesswoman
Mark StahlOttawa CountyCommissioner
Phil WaltonWood CountyRetired Social Security Manager/Immediate Past Board Chairman
Justin Moor
Lucas CountyPresident/CEO

Ex-Officio member of the Board

Dennis Hellmann Ex-Officio member of the Board


Background

The Area Office on Aging of Northwestern Ohio, Inc. was founded in 1974 by the Community Planning Council of Northwestern Ohio, Inc., a United Way planning agency. The Area Office on Aging was initially established to operate as a planning division within that agency. In 1979, the staff approached the Board of Trustees of United Way, Community Planning Council, and Ohio Commission on Aging, aka, the Ohio Department on Aging, and requested permission to organize a free-standing, independent, private, non-profit corporation to better serve Northwestern Ohio's older adult population. Approval was granted by all parties and the original organizers of the new corporation were: Henry L. Morse, J. Frank Troy, Elliott Miller, Duane Stranahan Jr., and Billie Johnson.

In 1980, the agency was chartered under Ohio law as a 501(c)(3) corporation. The corporation was established as a comprehensive agency for older adults, responsible for planning, policy-making, funding, advocacy, and programs and services for a ten-county region in northwestern Ohio. This northwest Ohio area includes Defiance, Erie, Fulton, Henry, Lucas, Ottawa, Paulding, Sandusky, Williams, and Wood counties. This is a 4,928 square mile service area. There are 218,585 older northwest Ohioans residing in this service area. Of these older adults, 72% live in an urban area and 28% live in a rural area.


The corporation was not exclusively chartered as an "area agency on aging". Instead, it requested and received approval to retain the "area agency" designation previously granted by the Ohio Commission on Aging/Ohio Department of Aging but expanded to include a broader mission of service to all older persons, not just the targeted groups under the Older Americans Act.

The Area Office on Aging is responsible at the local level, for the development and implementation of a comprehensive and coordinated service delivery system for older adults residing in northwestern Ohio. It is also responsible for regional and local planning and development of programs and services. In carrying out its mission, the Agency is responsible for the following activities, as set forth under its Charter and Articles of Incorporation:

  • Providing advocacy on behalf of older adults;
  • Empowering older adults to realize their fullest potential;
  • Coordinating, monitoring, and evaluating all senior programs and services;


  • Serving as the focal point for leadership for regional planning and service development for programs on aging;
  • Developing and maintaining a comprehensive and coordinated system of services for older adults in Defiance, Erie, Fulton, Henry, Lucas, Ottawa, Paulding, Sandusky, Williams and Wood Counties;
  • Providing direct services to older adults in areas where services are needed, and not available;
  • Developing and implementing a plan, approved by the Ohio Commission on aging (or its successor under the Older Americans Act);
  • Granting or contracting funds and resources to qualified, non-profit, private or public agencies to operate services and programs for older adults; and,
  • Seeking other grants and resources to enhance the quality of life for older adults.

Annual Report

2022 ANNUAL REPORT

Fast Facts

  • All 10 of the counties served by the Area Office on Aging of Northwestern Ohio have senior service levies.
  • Each year, over a million meals are served through the Area Office on Aging's nutrition providers.
  • About 20,000 older northwest Ohioans receive $50 worth of coupons that act as cash for fresh fruits and vegetables from local farmers through the Senior Farmers' Market Nutrition Program.
  • There are 218,585 northwest Ohioans aged 60 and over.
  • There are 6,988 grandparents in northwest Ohio who are responsible for the care of their grandchildren, according to the U. S. Census Bureau.

Strategic Plan

Click the link below to see the Area Office on Aging of Northwestern Ohio's Strategic Plan.

AOoA Housing Subsidiaries

  • Island Parkway Manor
  • Riverview Terrace
  • Westhaven