Aging Together, a regional partnership of over one hundred organizations and individuals, is a collaborative effort to help our five counties prepare for this age wave. Known originally as the Rappahannock Rapidan Eldercare Coalition, the partnership has adopted the name Aging Together to reflect the reality that aging affects everyone and that the only way to improve supports for older adults and families is to work collaboratively.
Aging Together began the strategic planning process as the Rappahannock Rapidan Eldercare Coalition, an informal consortium comprised mainly of service providers for the aging population in the five counties of Culpeper, Fauquier, Madison, Orange, and Rappahannock.
The partnership has evolved into an impressive and effective alliance of more than one hundred organizations and individuals who actively participate on one or more workgroups and collaborate across agencies, counties, and interest areas. Members include senior citizens, caregivers, local government officials, service providers, schools, representatives of the faith community, and other concerned citizens. The connecting purpose of the partnership is to support the needs and improve the lives of senior citizens and their families.
The partnership has evolved into an impressive and effective alliance of more than one hundred organizations and individuals who actively participate on one or more workgroups and collaborate across agencies, counties, and interest areas. Members include senior citizens, caregivers, local government officials, service providers, schools, representatives of the faith community, and other concerned citizens. The connecting purpose of the partnership is to support the needs and improve the lives of senior citizens and their families.
Each county is represented by its own partnership, which has developed its own vision and priorities. Each participates in the regional partnership and meets monthly to organize local activities and design a variety of initiatives.
Numerous regional workgroups address specific priority issues. These include housing, transportation, adult daycare, caregiver support, prescription drug assistance, communications, quality standards, workforce development, and wellness and prevention. These workgroups monitor trends and needs, and identify and implement strategies to address those needs.
A Core Leadership Group provides leadership and direction for the Aging Together partnership. Membership of the Core Leadership Group includes eleven members designated in the bylaws, and provides for up to four additional at-large members. The designated members are the directors of social services in each of the five counties; representatives from Culpeper Regional Hospital and Fauquier Hospital; the executive directors of the Piedmont United Way, the Rappahannock Rapidan Regional Commission, and the Rappahannock Rapidan Community Services Board and Area Agency on Aging (RRCSB/AAA); and the director of aging services for RRCSB/AAA.
A larger group of key stakeholders makes up the Regional Coordinating Council, which serves in an advisory role to the Core Leadership Group and holds decision-making authority for key matters. The Council includes representatives from all county teams and regional workgroups, and thus offers a coordinating and communications function as well.
A small staff supports and coordinates the work of the regional and county partnerships according to the established work plan.
Aging Together is supported by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation through its Community Partnerships for Older Adults (CPFOA) national initiative. CPFOA seeks to foster community partnerships that are improving long term care and supportive services systems to meet the current and future needs of older adults.