Every four years, Greater Lynn Senior Services (GLSS) develops an Area Plan on Aging, a document that serves as a blueprint for meeting the needs of people age 60 and older, adults living with disabilities, and their caregivers in Lynn, Lynnfield, Nahant, Saugus, and Swampscott. The plan is submitted to the Massachusetts Executive Office of Elder Affairs, the state agency that designates GLSS and other organizations like it as Area Agencies on Aging.

As part of the process, GLSS invites public review of and comment on the document. A draft of GLSS’ 2022-2025 Area Plan on Aging is available by contacting Andrew Wallace, GLSS’ Title III Planner, at awallace@glss.net or by calling 781-477-6702. The comment period will end with a public hearing to be held via Zoom technology on Tuesday, October 12, 2021, from 4:00 ‒ 5:00 p.m. Please contact awallace@glss.net for the Zoom link.

As a designated Area Agency on Aging, GLSS receives funding for what are called “Title III” programs (as identified by the Older Americans Act): Information and Referral; Nutrition (Meals on Wheels and senior lunch programs); Money Management; Family Caregiver Support Program; Ombudsman Program; healthy living programs; legal services (through Northeast Legal Aid); and a network of grant-funded community agencies. These include contracts that allow the agency to offer things like companion services and emergency short-term care for free to older adults in need. GLSS’ Title III programs are overseen by a volunteer Advisory Council, made up of representatives from GLSS’ five-community service area.

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts has also designated GLSS as an Aging Services Access Point, which funds a host of other programs—like home care services—that help older adults and people living with disabilities remain independent. For more information, visit www.glss.net.