We Excel In Aging Well!
The Monroe County Office for the Aging (MCOFA) was established by the Monroe County Legislature in 1973 and designated by the Federal and State governments as the Area Agency on Aging under Title III of the Older Americans Act for our service area. MCOFA is proud to celebrate over 50 years of delivering high quality, efficient, and effective long-term care services and supports to meet the changing needs of our community's older adults, caregivers of any age, and individuals with disabilities.
MCOFA is an administrative division within the Department of Human Services (DHS) and the governmental entity authorized to receive and allocate Older Americans Act and state funds for services and supports of community based long-term care. The primary responsibilities of MCOFA focus on planning, advocacy, and coordination activities.
These responsibilities are:
- To develop and implement a consumer-focused comprehensive four-year plan of coordinated services responsive to the priority needs of older persons, caregivers, and persons with disabilities in Monroe County. Services under this plan are delivered either directly by MCOFA, or through community based organizations under contract with Monroe County. This plan is known as the "Area Plan" and MCOFA submits annual updates to the New York State Office for the Aging to meet the changing short and long-term needs of those served in Monroe County.
- To advocate on behalf of the needs of older adults, caregivers, and persons with disabilities. MCOFA does this by monitoring, evaluating, and commenting on policies, programs, and community actions which affect individuals served in Monroe County.
- To coordinate our planning and service activities with other agencies and organizations to promote the most efficient use of existing resources and to promote new and expanded benefits for older adults, caregivers, and persons with disabilities in Monroe County.
- To assist in the transformation of our system to provide flexible services that are person/family centered, strengths-based, culturally competent and evidence-based.
To accomplish these objectives, MCOFA collaborates extensively with other DHS and county divisions, service providers, and community groups. Services are targeted to individuals with the highest social and economic need. An appointed Council for Elders made up of area professionals and consumers advises MCOFA in accordance with Older Americans Act regulations. This Council advises in the following areas:
- Assisting in the development of the Area Plan before submission to the New York State Office for the Aging (NYSOFA);
- Conducting and attending public hearings;
- Representing the interests of older adults (advocacy); and,
- Reviewing and commenting on community policies, programs, and actions affecting older persons with the intent of assuring maximum coordination and responsiveness to older adults.
In 1973, there were 97,000 individuals 60 years of age and older in Monroe County. Today, there are more than 183,969 individuals age 60 and older, and 21% have at least one disability. It is our goal to ensure that Monroe County’s older citizens have access to the programs and services they need to remain independent and “Excel in Aging Well.”
Office For The Aging Goals
- Encourage safe, active, and independent lifestyles with timely and responsive systems of quality community-based services and supports;
- Promote the rights of older adults and prevent their abuse, neglect and exploitation;
- Empower older adults, individuals with disabilities, their families, and the public to make informed decisions about, and be able to access, existing health, long-term services and supports and other service options;
- Promote job training and readiness skills for older adults who want to remain in the workforce, and to help care for our community's older residents and individuals with disabilities needing support to maintain independence.
