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Council on Aging is celebrating its 55th anniversary in 2026.

COA incorporated as a nonprofit on Dec. 27, 1971, originally serving three Kentucky and two Ohio counties.

Today, COA assists more than 27,000 older adults in southwestern Ohio to remain independent in their homes through a range of programs and services.

One of those is the Assisted Living Waiver (ALW), which launched in 2006, filling a critical gap between in-home care and nursing homes for Medicaid-eligible Ohioans age 21 and older.

COA was instrumental in launching the program in southwestern Ohio and helped the Ohio Department of Aging develop its policies and procedures. In addition, COA:

• assembled a dedicated team — assessors, care managers, and provider service staff — and uniquely took on both client enrollment and provider recruitment
• conducted provider pre-certifications for the state and created training programs to help facilities navigate the Medicaid system

COA became a leader among Area Agencies on Aging for ALW enrollments, and today continues to coordinate care for 740 ALW clients.

After 20 years, the program remains vital, as many facilities reserve waiver spaces for long-term residents who have transitioned from private pay to Medicaid.

More about the Assisted Living Waiver.