Missouri Association of Area Agencies On Aging

Missouri Association of Area Agencies on Aging | ma4| strives to create an aging friendly community throughout the state of Missouri. ma4 advocates for policies and services that enhance the quality of lives for adults who are aging and adults with disabilities to remain as independent as they choose, in the homes and communities they choose, for as long as they choose.

ma4 convenes monthly calls with the leadership of Missouri's ten Area Agencies on Aging to identify needs, issues, services, and policies to enhance the quality of lives for Missourians who are aging and for Missourians with disabilities. ma4 partners closely with the Missouri Division of Senior and Disability Services, the Missouri Senior Hair Legislature, Missouri's 204 Senior Community Centers, and multiple community based and private organizations throughout Missouri and nationally to achieve these goals.

Missouri Association of Area Agencies on Aging was founded in 1973 to serve as a vehicle for the organization and delivery of social and nutrition services to older Missourians and their caregivers. ma4 is part of a national network of 56 state agencies on aging, 618 area agencies on aging (ten in Missouri), nearly 20,000 service providers, 281 Tribal organizations, and 1 Native Hawaiian organization representing 400 Tribes.
ma4's member organizations provide nearly ten million units of service to over 250,000 individuals annually.

ma4 Serves as a statewide entity to focus public and private attention on the changing needs and concerns of Missouri's aging and disabled population and to a network for consumer outreach and assistance for public benefits.

ma4 is an original and continuously funded Navigator grantee (CMS) and conducts statewide outreach and enrollment to consumers on Missouri Marketplace and premium tax credits (Affordable Care Act).

ma4 is a grantee of the National Council on Aging (NCOA) Benefits Enrollment Center (BEC); NCOA's network of BECs extends to 85 agencies working throughout 41 states to focus on connecting Medicare beneficiaries with limited incomes to benefits that pay for healthcare, food, and more.

ma4 is grantee of the ACL Chronic Disease Self-Management Education Program and works with statewide entities to provide older adults and adults with disabilities with education and tools to help them better manage chronic conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, arthritis, chronic pain, and depression.

ma4 is a key partner in the Missouri Aging Services Data Collaborative, the recipient of the ACL Social Care Referrals Challenge Awards; the purpose is to develop and optimize interoperable and scalable technology solutions that foster connections between community-based organizations and health care systems in support of holistic health and social care for older adults and people with disabilities.