Who We Are

The National Council on Aging is a non-profit service and advocacy organization headquartered in Washington, DC. NCOA is a national voice for older Americans - especially those who are vulnerable and disadvantaged - and the community organizations that serve them. It brings together non-profit organizations, businesses and government to develop creative solutions that improve the lives of all older adults. NCOA works with thousands of organizations across the country to help seniors live independently, find jobs and benefits, improve their health, and remain active in their communities.

Mission

To improve the lives of older Americans.

Our Core Values

These values guide NCOA’s work on behalf of older Americans:

• Social and economic justice.
• Respect and caring for all.
• Innovation.
• Excellence and integrity.

How We Do It

NCOA’s core competencies guide its work on behalf of the nation’s seniors:

• Collaborative Leadership
  • Creating and leading strategic alliances, coalitions, and multi-sector partnerships.
  • Organizing, mobilizing and supporting nationwide "communities" of organizations and leaders.
• Advocacy
  • Improving public policies by:
    • Combining service and advocacy.
    • Being a national voice for older adults in greatest need and those who serve them.
• Innovation
  • Fostering and diffusing innovations.
  • Making markets work better for older adults.

Here are the five impact areas in which we focus our efforts for all older adults, with special focus on those who are disadvantaged and/or vulnerable:

• Healthy Aging
  • Improved health and reduced disability.
• Workforce Development
  • Increased participation in meaningful and rewarding work.
• Civic Engagement
  • Increased community service that enriches participants and is productive for society.
• Access to Benefits
  • Increased access to public and private benefits and resources.
• Long-Term Services and Supports
  • Enhanced capacity to live in communities with dignity, choice and financial security.

Key NCOA Programs 2007-08

• Access to Benefits Coalition - Ensures that Medicare beneficiaries with limited incomes know about and can make the best use of all available resources for accessing prescription drugs and reducing their costs.
• BenefitsCheckUp - Helps seniors with limited income and resources find benefits programs that help with prescription drug costs, rent, energy bills, food, and more.
• Benefits Enrollment Fund - Pays local agencies for their performance in helping seniors get enrolled in key federal and state benefits programs.
• Center for Healthy Aging - Is a significant, national resource center for professionals interested in developing and implementing healthy aging programs such as health promotion, falls prevention, disease prevention, and chronic disease self-management.
• Diffusion of Innovations - Helps non-profit organizations assess their readiness to adopt and speed the adoption of new ideas and programs.
• Health Education Program - Promotes healthy aging through consumer education campaigns on medical conditions affecting older persons.
• My Medicare Matters - Is a community-based education program that is helping thousands of people with Medicare learn about and enroll in the Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage (Part D).
• National Center for Family Friends - Mobilizes older adults as resources to families who have children with special needs in communities nationwide.
• RespectAbility - Seeks to help non-profit organizations make more effective use of adults 55+ in their community-based efforts.
• Senior Center National Accreditation Program - Provides official recognition that a senior center is meeting its mission in a nationally accepted professional fashion.
• Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) - Provides training and employment opportunities to low-income Americans over age 55.
• Senior Environmental Employment (SEE) - Supports environmental projects and older workers.
• Use Your Home to Stay at Home™ - Encourages the appropriate use of reverse mortgages to help older Americans pay for long-term care services at home.
• Wisdom Works - Fosters civic engagement among older adults through self-directed teams.