header image
about

About

Southern Area Agency on Aging (SAAA) is one of the 25 Area Agencies on Aging in Virginia. Southern Area Agency on Aging is a private, not for profit organization which receives federal, state and local funding, as well as fees and contributions from the individuals who receive services.

SAAA’s mission is to provide services and resources to promote the health, quality of life, and independence of seniors, individuals with disabilities, and their caregivers.  We enable people to live with dignity and choice.

The age to be eligible for most Agency on Aging services is 60. (Age eligibility for the Agency’s Senior Employment Program is 55 years and older; individuals of all ages, who otherwise meet that program’s eligibility criteria, may qualify for Chronic Disease Self Management Education workshops; Mobility Management Services, and Insurance Counseling).

SAAA office hours are 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Services are provided during these hours.  Services are not provided nights, weekends, or holidays. (Occasionally, recreation activities, transportation, personal care and respite may be scheduled in the evening or on a weekend, or in some cases on a holiday.) Some of the services established by the Older Americans Act are designed to keep relatively healthy people strong and active (for example, transportation, and lunches at senior centers and other designated locations). Other services are designed for the care of disabled or frail older citizens (for example, home delivered meals and help in the home).

SAAA staff members provide some of the services. Other services are rendered by organizations that subcontract with the SAAA. Many Agency services are used by people of all income levels. Some services, especially those designed to assist frail older citizens, are in great demand.

Funding has not kept pace with the demand for home-delivered meals, transportation, personal care, respite and home repairs. When the funding provided for a service is not enough to fill the demand, the Older Americans Act directs Agencies on Aging to target the services to older citizens with low income who lack family and friends to assist them.