Congress passed the Older Americans Act as part of President Lyndon Johnson's Great Society in an effort to provide Americans over 60 years of age with social services beyond those covered by Social Security and Medicare, and to help senior citizens enjoy long, active, and independent lives through the establishment of a network of aging programs coordinated by AAAs. As the designated AAA for the South Plains, SPAG is responsible for assessing the needs of the region's senior population, and developing and implementing plans to meet those needs. SPAG coordinates services and resources for persons 60 years of age and older in the 15-county South Plains region. A 25-member SPAG aging advisory committee provides community input into plans and programs. Serving on this committee are leaders of local organizations, public officials, representatives of senior groups, and aging program participants.

Of the 55,056 persons over the age of 60 who reside in the South Plains, 16.3 percent have incomes below the federal poverty guidelines, and more than half of the poor elderly reside in very rural areas of the region. SPAG contracts with local governments, non-profit agencies and organizations to provide a variety of services to senior citizens designed to increase personal independence and productivity. Contracts are based on a long-term area plan, with funds provided through the Older Americans Act and the State of Texas. SPAG's Aging Programs provide services to more than 16 percent of the senior population, reaching over 9,000 South Plains senior citizens. A variety of services are available through a network of 21 service providers in 13 counties.

SPAG is the focal point in the South Plains for access and assistance to senior programs. To ensure an integrated service system, SPAG provides Information and Assistance, Legal/Benefits Counseling, Case Management, and Long Term Care Ombudsman as direct services in all 15 counties of the region. These services are integrated in a way that minimizes delay and inconvenience. SPAG focuses on reaching rural, isolated, frail, low-income and minority elderly by targeting services for people in the greatest economic and social need.

The comprehensive Information and Assistance project is the central component of SPAG's access and assistance delivery system, since it offers information to seniors on all aspects of aging services including housing, income assistance, employment and volunteer opportunities, consumer affairs, transportation, social programs and benefits/ legal services. SPAG's public awareness campaign, in English and Spanish, includes contact with the media, speaking engagements, public service announcements, promotional materials, brochures, and TV and radio interviews.

Through staff and trained volunteers, SPAG provides legal/benefits counseling assistance on such matters as wills and estates, living wills, durable power of attorney for health care, and property disputes. Assistance is also available with entitlement benefits and in obtaining legal counsel for those who cannot afford to hire an attorney. Benefits counseling includes assistance with Medicare claims and appeals, Medicare supplement insurance, Social Security, Medicaid, Food Stamps, disability, and long term care insurance. Bilingual volunteers assist elderly clients with document preparation.

SPAG's Case Management program oversees "Resources United," and the "Options for Independent Living" projects. "Resources United" is a volunteer consortium of more than 90 social service and health-related agencies, which meets twice monthly at the SPAG offices to

Additional programs focusing on aid to frail elderly that SPAG helps fund are the Senior Companion Program, which operates a Homemaker I project in seven rural counties through Caprock Community Action Association, and Adult Day Care through the Adult Day Activity and Health Center, serving Lubbock County. Many of the elderly receiving these services suffer from Alzheimer's Disease. SPAG Aging Programs work with Southwestern Public Service (SPS) on a "Gatekeeper" project, which identifies and assists vulnerable elderly persons in need of help who are unable to help themselves.

The Long Term Care Ombudsman program also assists frail elderly, specifically those residing in nursing homes. This program advocates residents' rights through coordinated efforts of the nursing home staff, residents, families and the Texas Department of Human Services, Long Term Care Regulatory Division. Three SPAG staff certified ombudsmen and certified volunteer ombudsmen participate in nursing home open hearings, family and resident council meetings, unannounced inspections, complaint investigations, and annual surveys. The program also assists residents and families with nursing home placements, questions regarding nursing home life, finances, spousal impoverishment and Medicaid and Medicare eligibility.

Senior citizens who live in the South Plains, especially those in rural areas who live alone and are poor, rely on their local senior citizens centers to provide critical services such as nutrition, transportation, telephone reassurance, and health screenings. Senior citizen centers are the focal points for delivery of many aging services. Some of the services offered are meals, recreation and social activities, nutrition/health education, exercise, transportation, and volunteer opportunities.

Congregate and home delivered meals are at the core of many of the multipurpose senior citizen centers. Of the 27 senior centers, 25 are also nutrition sites offering hot noon meals during the week. Meals must meet at least one-third the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA). SPAG contracts with a registered dietician who plans menus for nutrition service providers, evaluates their projects, and conducts nutrition education lessons, which are passed on to participants at the senior centers and recipients of home delivered meals. Anonymous donations are encouraged to help defray costs; however, senior citizens will not be denied services because they cannot or choose not to contribute.

The Texas Money Management Program is a technical assistance program designed to assist local communities in setting up a volunteer money management program.  Initiated in 1981, the Texas Money Management program is offered in partnership with the state and sponsored locally by South Plains Association of Governments Area Agency on Aging.  The program offers daily money management services to help low-income older or disabled people who have difficulty budgeting, paying routine bills and keeping track of financial matters.  The program's goal is to promote and prolong independent living for individuals who are at risk of losing their independence due to inability to manage their financial affairs.  Money management programs are one of the most effective alternatives to guardianship.  The program also serves to help prevent financial abuse, neglect and exploitation of the clients it serves. 

The program uses volunteers to assist individuals who do not have friends or relatives able to help.  Two types of service are offered: Bill Payer and Representative Payee.

Bill Payer volunteers provide budget set-up, checkbook balancing and bill paying services for persons who remain in control of their finances but need some help keeping things in order.  The program can provide services on a short term or long term basis.  The majority of clients are served on a long term basis.

Representative Payee volunteers are appointed by a government agency to receive and manage a government benefit (such as Social Security check) when the client has been determined to be incapable of handing his own funds.  The volunteer deposits the funds in a special account from which the client's expenses for basic needs can be paid. 

The "Guiding Principle" of the program is to advise, support and promote the expansion of local money management programs to as many areas of the state as possible. 

Transportation is fundamental to the independence of seniors. Twelve projects provide senior citizens transportation to and from doctors, dentists, pharmacies, social service agencies, senior citizens centers and shopping establishments.

Projects throughout the South Plains vary greatly in size and available services, but all were created to serve elderly people with activities that enhance their quality of life, support their independence, and encourage their continued involvement in the community.

Texas Department of Aging

The Older Americans Act

Social Security Administration

HCFA, the Medicare and Medicaid Agency

National Senior Service Corps - Senior Companion Programs 

Alzheimer's Association

Texas Department of Human Services

AARP

Other Interesting Sites on Aging

Senior Citizens' Equity Act
The Senior Citizens' Equity Act removes financial burdens on American senior citizens.

The Administration on Aging
This site has links to Internet sites, an Eldercare Locator, and information on the 1995 White House Conference on Aging.

SENIORCOM
A commercial and non-commercial information site. It is designed around an image map of a cyber community.

ANSWERS, the Magazine for Adult Children of Aging Parents
The Magazine For Adult Children of Aging Parents

Seniors-Site
Seniors-Site is dedicated to provide a unique, informative, interesting, and entertaining web site for adults, age 50 and older (senior citizens), and younger folks that help or deal with parents, grandparents, older friends or are caregivers.

Institute for Human Development, Life Course, and Aging, University of Toronto
The Centre has a mandate to carry out research into the process of human development, life course and aging, population aging, and the aged in the social, psychological, biological and health sciences.

Aging Research Centre (ARC)
Dedicated to providing a service that allows researchers in this field to find information that is related to the study of the aging process