Who We Are

Centralina Area Agency on Aging (AAA) strives to support and enhance the capacity of service and advocacy systems to promote independence, preserve dignity and advocate for the rights of older and disabled adults and their families.

Who We Serve

counties_map The Centralina AAA serves a nine-county region and is an “on-the-ground” organization charged with helping vulnerable older adults and people with disabilities live with independence and dignity in their homes and communities. Centralina AAA serves the counties of Anson, Cabarrus, Gaston, Iredell, Lincoln, Mecklenburg, Rowan, Stanly & Union. We are located at 10735 David Taylor Dr., Suite 250, Charlotte, NC 28262.

History of AAA in North Carolina

With the enactment of powerful federal legislation known as the Older Americans Act (OAA) in 1965, Area Agencies on Aging were mandated in every state. In 1971, N.C. Governor Robert W. Scott released an Administrative Directive placing Area Agencies on Aging within the already designated regional planning organizations. Centralina Area Agency on Aging is part of Centralia Regional Council, one of 16 such lead regional planning organizations.

As one of the 16 Area Agencies on Aging in North Carolina our purposes are to plan, develop, coordinate and deliver a wide range of long-term services and supports to consumers in the nine-county region that take into consideration the local needs and preferences that result in a local delivery system tailored to the community.

Funding and Coordination of Services

After getting input from consumers, service providers and other interested stakeholders, Centralina AAA develops an Area Plan outlining needs and proposed recommendations, then updates it every few years to reflect emerging trends. AAAs are also tasked by the OAA to serve as advocates for older adults, enabling the agency’s leaders to engage on local and state issues beyond the programs and services they fund or deliver. AAAs contract with local service providers to deliver many direct services, such as meals, transportation and in-home services. However, most agencies are direct providers of Information and referral/assistance, case management, benefits/health insurance counseling and family caregiver support programs.

Title VI Assurances

Centralina fully complies with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and related statutes and regulations prohibiting discrimination in all programs and activities.

Centralina hereby gives assurances that no person shall on the grounds of race, color, national origin, age, gender or disability be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be otherwise subjected to discrimination under any program or activity conducted by Centralina regardless of whether those particular programs and activities are federally-funded. It is the responsibility of every employee with Centralina and all Centralina’s external agents to incorporate and implement actions consistent with nondiscrimination in programs.

Centralina also prohibits discrimination against persons with limited English proficiency (LEP) and gives assurances to provide equal access to programs, meetings, publications and activities to individuals with limited English skills.

Reasonable accommodations will be provided upon request and may include translation services, modifications or adjustments to a program, publication or activity to enable an individual with a disability or someone who does not speak English to participate. For more information on Centralina’s Title VI Plan, to request a reasonable accommodation or to file a Title VI related complaint please contact 704-348-2733 or email admin@centralina.org.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

An inclusive workplace is essential to carrying out Centralina’s mission of expanding opportunity and improving quality of life while upholding our core values. Centralina has a responsibility to create and sustain a work environment where employees of all races, ethnicities, nationalities, cultures, religions, gender identities or expressions, sexual orientations, ages, neurodiversities and physical abilities feel safe, respected and empowered to bring their unique identities to work. We welcome the contributions these differences offer and recognize that having an array of perspectives fosters creativity and innovation.

To promote diversity, equity, and inclusion within our organization, Centralina commits to:

Providing ongoing training and resources on cultural competency and overcoming personal biases
Zero tolerance for harassment of any kind
Resolving conflicts and addressing grievances expediently and effectively
Ensuring equity in hiring, advancement and salary setting practices
Regularly reviewing and assessing the organization’s cultural inclusivity and sensitivity