Area Agency on Aging

As the designated Area Agency on Aging for Somerville and Cambridge, Somerville-Cambridge Elder Services (SCES) receives federal funds under the Older Americans Act.

A portion of this money is set aside and awarded to community organizations through a competitive grants process.

Area Agencies on Aging are a federal designated network across the state and country, which were established as a key component of the Older Americans Act (OAA) of 1965. OAA articulated a set of far reaching objectives related to the health and well-being of older Americans and sought to establish a framework for the delivery of community based services which could work to achieve the Act’s objectives.

Amendments to OAA in 1972 led to the development of the national nutrition program. In 1973, states were required to establish planning and service areas and to set up AAA’s within those areas.