Learning About the Kansas Department on Aging

The Kansas Department on Aging is an advocate and coordinates elder services to improve the quality of life for senior Kansans. It includes online publication information which can be mailed directly to you by visiting their website. The mission statement of the The Kansas Department on Aging uses public and private resources to improve the security, dignity and independence of Kansas seniors, their families, seniors' caregivers and all Kansans living in adult care homes.

The Kansas Department on Aging was established by statue in 1977 as a cabinet - level executive agency. Funding is provided through donations, the United States Department of Agriculture, state general funds, local funds, and the Older Americans Act.

The Kansas Department on Ageing has for long range goals to promote the security, dignity and independents of Kansas senior citizens. The Kansas Department on Aging wishes to promote healthy aging with personal and financial independence, continuous choices of services for seniors, high quality services and supports for individuals at all levels of need and effective, efficient and affordable services and supports.

Programs

The agency oversees programs that provide a continuum of care including, information and referral, in - home services and nursing care. The Kansas Department on Aging has numerous programs made available for the elderly who are 55 years or older. Some specific examples include a senior medical transportation program to give free rides to adults over 60 years of age. An adult daily services program provides respite for the main caregiver and special medical attention for the older individual.

A foster grandparent program allows the elderly person to engage in volunteer activities in the community to especially work with children. A widowed persons services to help deal with the grief of losing ones spouse to death. Plus medical services helps find elderly people less expensive drugs through pharmaceutical drug programs.

A retired, volunteer program as well a senior employment program providing meaningful volunteer and job opportunities for persons over 55. They also provide a commodity supplemental food delivery program which provides quality meals to over 317 homes and sites in Kansas. They even have an Asia outreach program for eligible Asian seniors for language barriers and cultural differences due to relocation to Kansas

The Kansas Department on Aging not only provides programs to improve the quality of life for the elderly but it will also impose penalties on any adult care home or site that is serious lacking is safety, nutrition and sanitation services. For example, it imposed a civil monetary penalty on Homestead of Olathe for $3325 in January 2006.