By Tim Wholf

Utilizing input from hundreds of community members, the Johnson County Area Agency on Aging recently developed a comprehensive four-year plan. The 2026-2029 Area Plan on Aging was required by federal legislation known as the Older Americans Act.

The OAA authorizes federal funding for programs that support older adults, adults with disabilities and their caregivers. Since the Johnson County AAA is a federally designated Area Agency on Agency, it needed to identify local needs, set service priorities and establish strategies to improve the well-being of older residents in their communities with particular attention to those with greatest social and economic needs.

JCAAA began preparations for the new four-year plan in Fall 2024. As required by the OAA, a comprehensive needs assessment was conducted to determine the most pressing issues facing older adults living in Johnson County.

On Jan. 1, 2025, JCAAA launched an online needs assessment survey, available in both English and Spanish.

Paper surveys were also made available to residents in English, Spanish, Chinese, Korean and Vietnamese.

This survey remained open through May 7, 2025, and resulted in 1,152 total responses. In addition to the survey, JCAAA staff conducted 18 community focus groups throughout Johnson County, engaging 375 participants.

These conversations offered valuable insights from residents,
community leaders and stakeholders.

A draft of the four-year plan was posted on JCAAA’s website for a 30-day public comment period. All submitted feedback was incorporated into the final version of the plan.

Insights gathered from the survey and focus groups were used to identify local needs. The JCAAA team reviewed and categorized the input to determine the most critical service priorities for the upcoming four years. The resulting plan outlines key services, goals for each priority area and strategies with measurable outcomes. The priority areas JCAAA will focus on during the next four years are:

• Nutrition and food security
• Safety, security and dignity
• Social connection and mental well-being
• Access to resources and services

The plan emphasizes the importance of collaboration with other agencies, organizations and stakeholders in the community to create a comprehensive and coordinated system of support for older adults. While JCAAA maintains strong existing partnerships, it continues to develop new partnerships to address growing community needs.

The four-year plan also details the funding sources that support JCAAA’s work, including federal Older Americans Act funds, state and county contributions, donations and program fees. The plan ensures that these resources will be used effectively to implement goals and deliver services to those who need them most.

The 2026–2029 Area Plan on Aging serves as a strategic roadmap for improving the quality of life for Johnson County’s older adults. It aims to ensure efficient use of resources and foster strong partnerships across the aging network.

By focusing on key priorities and leveraging community collaboration, JCAAA remains committed to creating a supportive and inclusive environment for aging in Johnson County.

The Johnson County 2026-2029 Area Plan on Aging is available on the Johnson County Area Agency on Aging website: jocogov.org/agingservices.

Tim Wholf is director of the Johnson County Department of Aging and Human Services which includes the Johnson County Area Agency on Aging.