(Posted 2024 March)
Local resident Dorothy Hutchins, 93, testified before the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, sharing how she has benefited from services provided by the Fairfax Area Agency on Aging. Hutchins told Senators she lives independently in her own home. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, she drove herself to the Lincolnia Senior Center for 20 years, playing bridge with friends, taking exercise classes, and enjoying lunch with her peers. She stopped attending the senior center during the pandemic and started to receive home delivered meals. She credits the services she receives from the Fairfax Area Agency on Aging for being able to live independently, in her own home.
The Older Americans Act was passed in 1965 to address the needs of older adults and help them live healthy, independent lives. The Older Americans Act designated local Area Agencies on Aging to provide services, programs, and resources to help older adults age successfully, including establishing senior centers, providing congregate meal services, transportation, long-term care ombudsman, adult protective services, falls prevention programs, family caregiver programs, and more.
Read Dorothy's full testimony. Watch the full committee hearing.
The Fairfax Area Agency on Aging is part of the Fairfax County Department of Family Services, Adult and Aging Division. The Lincolnia Senior Center is one of 15 senior centers operated by Fairfax County Department of Neighborhood and Community Services.
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