photo by: Contributed

The Jayhawk Area Agency on Aging, 2910 SW Topeka Blvd, Topeka, KS.

As the Jayhawk Area Agency on Aging celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2026, its executive director said that services nationwide are actively facing challenges, even as the older adult population grows.

Susan Harris started with the Jayhawk Area Agency on Aging, JAAA, about 21 years ago as a case manager, then as a supervisor and a program manager and now, the executive director. She said when it comes to celebrating this milestone, she’s been proud of the growth of the organization. The agency started with three employees in 1976 when it opened its doors, now it has 32 employees serving about 15,000 older adults each year.

“It’s just great for me to be the person at the helm to usher the agency into the 50th anniversary and onto the next 10 to 15 years,” Harris said.

The JAAA is a nonprofit agency serving older adults along with their caregivers in Shawnee, Jefferson and Douglas counties in Kansas. Its mission is to reduce barriers to independent living and improve the quality of life for older residents and their caregivers.

Some of its core services include case management and information/referral assistance to help people understand their options and access community resources; in-home support such as attendant care, homemaker assistance, personal emergency response systems, and medication reminders; and nutrition programs like home-delivered meals and meal planning.

Additionally, the agency offers caregiver support services to help family caregivers find respite care, support groups, and practical assistance; Senior Health Insurance Counseling for Kansas for unbiased Medicare/insurance guidance; legal assistance funding; and other supports such as physical fitness activities and outreach events.

In order to fund these services, the JAAA receives both federal and state funding for a lot of its services. The federal funding comes from the Older Americans Act, and it supports social and nutrition services like the JAAA’s CHAMPSS, Choosing Healthy Appetizing Meal Plan Solutions for Seniors, a program providing affordable meals as well as legal service needs from Kansas Legal Services. The state funding is from the Senior Care Act, which helps with in-home care services and support.

Harris said on average, the JAAA receives on average around $4 million from the Older Americans Act and about $800,000 from the Senior Care Act, and the funding hasn’t increased to meet demands.

“It’s challenging to be innovative when the funding has not increased,” Harris said. “It’s challenging to increase the services and meet those needs when funding hasn’t increased.”

While it may seem like a lot of money, a majority of the funding goes through them and on to other agencies that actually provide the services, she said.

photo by: Contributed

People participate in the Jayhawks Area Agency on Aging’s Drums Alive program.

“It’s not a lot of money coming into our agency, and one of the things our board really strives to do is to be good stewards of those dollars and making sure those dollars are going where the needs are,” Harris said.

Harris said the number of older adults has increased and so have the needs of services, and it will continue to increase.

“Definitely the need has increased for in-home care,” Harris said. ” … with regard to not necessarily having enough workers that are available to come into the folks’ homes … oftentimes it’s difficult to find people willing to do that kind of thing.”

Harris said it’s often people’s choice to want to remain in their homes for as long as they possibly can, and the JAAA’s services are meant to help keep them there. Harris added that keeping their housing can have its challenges, as older adults have the potential to be taxed out of their home or have issues with keeping up with the maintenance and upkeep on their homes because they can’t afford it.

However, Harris said the biggest challenge the JAAA is actively working to tackle is increasing access to transportation, especially across county lines. She said not many transportation providers will cross county borders, and if a patient lives in Douglas County and needs to go to Kansas City to visit the hospital, that creates a barrier.

“Not only (is it) cross county transportation, but just transportation in general to medical appointments or grocery shopping, paying medications, those kinds of things,” Harris said. “Most places you’re looking at are at least $25 for a one way trip, so that’s not affordable for a lot of older adults … The lack of ability to go where I want when I want does hinder folks’ independence.”

While there are still many things that need to be advocated for, the JAAA has been a significant partner in this space for the last 50 years. To celebrate the milestone, the agency will be holding several events throughout the year, including:

• A Golden Connections Resource Fair on Saturday, July 25, will showcase services and opportunities for every stage of aging — from caregiving and healthy living to travel, volunteering, and grandparents raising grandchildren. Unlike traditional senior fairs, it will focus on connection, inspiration, and practical resources for older adults and families navigating all phases of later life. This event will be at the Agriculture Hall, 1 Expocentre Drive, Topeka, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

• The Golden Strides Fun Run on Saturday, Aug. 29, will bring together participants of all ages for a fun and meaningful fundraiser supporting JAAA’s programs. It will feature music, face painting and food trucks at Shelter No. 1 at Shawnee Lake, 3400 SE Leisure Lane, Topeka, from from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

• The celebration will culminate with a Golden Gala from 6 to 10 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 25, an elegant evening honoring five decades of service, community impact, and partnerships. Guests will enjoy dinner and entertainment at Kay McFarland Japanese Garden, 635 SW Gage Blvd, Topeka.

Harris also said there will be a new program coming to Lawrence toward the end of the month, Drums Alive. It’s a group fitness program that blends rhythmic drumming, music and movement into a fun and engaging activity.

“The ones we’ve had in Topeka have been very well received and everybody has really enjoyed it,” Harris said. “And so we’re looking forward to starting that in the Lawrence area and then moving it to Jefferson County as well.”

For more information about services offered by the Jayhawk Area Agency on Aging, people can call 785-235-1367.