Commission on Aging
Subcommittee Descriptions

The Access Committee makes recommendations to the AAA Board on procedures and guidelines on issues of access to senior services such as case management, transportation, and information and assistance. This committee:

• Conducts studies and develops issue papers.
• Develops, reviews and updates minimum standards for focal points and case management.
• Reviews, researches and updates the factors and weights used to distribute funds.
• Conducts listening sessions at various sites in Dane County involving the needs of focal points and seniors specific to the area.
• Conducts listening sessions with the various service providers concerning issues affecting older adults.

The Elder Abuse Committee is a joint committee of the Commission on Crimes and the Commission on Aging / AAA Board. This committee:

• Develops and provides oversight of a plan to address issues raised in system improvement studies and other data on elder abuse and neglect services.
• Increases community awareness.
• Expands professional training.
• Coordinates community services for at-risk and abused and neglected elders.
• Promotes and supports the efforts of the Multi-Disciplinary Team for Vulnerable Adults (M-Team), the Fiduciary Abuse Specialist Team (FAST), and other specialty teams.
• Makes regular reports on its work at monthly meetings of both the Commission on Sensitive Crimes and the Commission on Aging / Area Agency on Aging Board.

The Legislative Committee submits position statements to the AAA Board for approval. Those positions establish the basis for action on public policy issues. This committee:

• Sets priorities for action on issues (including intergenerational issues) that affect older adults of Dane County.
• Researches issues in developing priorities and writes position papers.
• Develops links with groups advocating for older adults and the constituency concerned about aging issues in Dane County.
• Develops links with agencies providing services for older adults in Dane County, especially the 16 focal points for aging services.
• Follows deliberations of official bodies on positions taken by this committee and reports those actions to the aging constituency.
• Participates in activities of other groups working toward implementing the positions of this committee.
• Advocates for positions taken by this committee with federal, state, county, and local bodies responsible for taking action on those positions.

The Nutrition Committee makes recommendations and submits position statements to the AAA Board for action. These recommendations establish specific program features and policies for the Senior Nutrition Program’s 30 meal sites and also its home delivered meal programs. This committee:

• Reviews meal and participant data per meal site and makes recommendations about the locations and performance of the meal sites.
• Reviews donation data per meal site and makes recommendations about strategies to increase this revenue source.
• Meets with consumers at meal sites to ask about their satisfaction with the meals, as well as programs and services connected to the meals.
• Reviews specific Senior Nutrition Program policies as indicated by state policies as needing local determinations.
• Develops and recommends standards for congregate sites and home delivered meals for use in contracts and biannual site reviews.
• Surveys consumers and site managers regarding transportation issues related to participation in the Senior Nutrition Program.
• Promotes policies and programs that enhance and increase the nutritional status of older people, preventing more costly health problems.
• Educates the public about the benefits and costs of the Senior Nutrition Program.
• Sets annual goals for program improvements.
• Researches and reviews factors considered to be primary indicators of the greatest economic, health, and/or social needs of older citizens as related to nutrition status.

Date Updated: January 10, 2003