Area Office on Aging Wins Top Honor for Its Innovative Older Adult COVID Vaccination Efforts

Building upon its reputation as being locally known and nationally recognized, the Area Office on Aging of Northwestern Oho, Inc. (AOoA) received the first place national Aging Innovation Award for its innovative older adult COVID vaccination efforts today.  The AOoA is one of 618 Area Agencies on Aging providing programs and services to older adults.

USAging presented the AOoA with national Aging Innovations Award at its national conference for the AOoA’s Operation COVID-19 Response: Take Your Best Shot initiative. Early in the COVID-19 pandemic, Area Office on Aging of Northwestern Ohio (AOoA) fielded more than 1,000 telephone calls daily from older adults and community members seeking information about the virus and resources to protect against it.

To support underserved older adults, communities of color and individuals at high risk of morbidity and mortality, the AOoA developed Operation COVID-19 Response: Take Your Best Shot, partnering with two Federally Qualified Health Centers, the Ohio National Guard and a coalition of local for-profit and nonprofit entities to educate, dispel myths and empower targeted communities to make informed decisions related to COVID-19. “We are honored to receive this national recognition for the life-saving work we have been doing with our partners to get older adults vaccinated,” said Area Office on Aging President/CEO Billie Johnson.

The Area Office on Aging of Northwestern Ohio is a leader in helping older adults, their family caregivers, and younger persons with disabilities live long, quality, independent lives. Through providing both direct services as well as contracting with over 180 provider organizations, the Agency serves thousands of northwest Ohioans a year with home care, nutrition, support of family caregivers, and senior services.