Area Agency on Aging of Northwest Michigan

Mission: To serve and advocate for older persons, adults with disabilities and caregivers by supporting their independence, dignity and quality of life.

Area Agency on Aging of Northwest Michigan (AAANM) is a private, nonprofit agency designated as an Area Agency on Aging in 1974 by the SUA, Michigan Office of Services to the Aging (OSA), now known as the Bureau of Aging, Community Living and Supports (ACLS). We are one of 16 AAAs in Michigan. AAANM has proudly served residents in the ten counties of Antrim, Benzie, Charlevoix, Emmet, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, Leelanau, Manistee, Missaukee, and Wexford counties since 1974. Our service area is also referred to as Region 10.

We are part of an Aging Network that includes:

Federal: The Administration on Aging (AoA) awards funds for nutrition and supportive home and community-based services to 56 State Units on Aging based primarily on the number of persons 60 years of age and over in the state.

State: The State Units on Aging (SUAs) award funds to 629 Area Agencies on Aging.

Local: The Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) determine the needs of older persons locally and work to address those needs through the funding of local services and through advocacy. AAAs are required to prioritize funding for those with greatest social and/or economic need with particular attention to low-income minority individuals.

As an Area Agency on Aging, we operate within the framework of the Federal Older Americans Act and the State’s Older Michiganians Act.

We have four primary functions as we develop, manage, and fund a comprehensive and coordinated service delivery system within our region. These functions are (1) advocacy, (2) funding, (3) planning, and (4) program development. Additionally, we offer many services directly, while also partnering with other community organizations in the delivery of services. Together with our community partners, we help build and maintain a strong local network of supports, resources, and services for older adults, adults with disabilities, and caregivers in our region.