Statements

Mission

For over 35 years, AgeWell Middle TN (formerly Council on Aging of Middle TN) has been a trusted community resource and an advocate for older adults and family caregivers. We serve over 20,000 older adults, caregivers, and professionals annually through information and referral services, community education, and advocacy. Our mission is to champion informed and positive aging and serve as the area's catalyst for collaborative solutions.
Our strategic approach includes convening partners around critical needs, facilitating collaboration, research, and planning, then launching solutions. Three programs successfully developed by AgeWell are:
• Living at Home - a care management program for older adult homeowners with limited income
• Discover Nashville and Discover Williamson - a civic engagement program for active older adults
• Senior Ride Nashville - a volunteer-assisted ride program for older adults who no longer drive, founded by AgeWell in 2017 and now operating in Davidson County as an independent 501(c)3 nonprofit organization with the model being replicated in Sumner and Wilson counties

As more of us live longer, we have the unique opportunity to shape the future that we want for ourselves and our families. This work is vital as ten thousand Baby Boomers turn 65 every day, and by the year 2030, 20-25% of Tennesseans will be 65+. AgeWell is focused on 1) changing public perceptions about aging by promoting inclusive, age-friendly communities, and 2) partnering with nonprofit, government, and business stakeholders to generate solutions to the unmet needs of older adults and caregivers. Currently, our two NEW initiatives: a social enterprise (Eldercare Coach) that assists employers and employees by providing caregiver education and support, and a financial empowerment initiative to coordinate services for older adults across partnering organizations.

Background

In 1985, the Nashville mayor's office recommended that 'there be a program available to identify needs on a continuing basis and to work with professionals and seniors to find solutions to problems.' Hence, the Council on Aging was formed as part of the Council of Community Services and then in 2001, became an independent nonprofit agency. For over thirty-five years, AgeWell has served as a trusted information hub and catalyst for developing collaborative solutions to the unmet needs of older adults and caregivers. AgeWell ensures that older adults and family caregivers have an unbiased, comprehensive Directory of Services (print and online) for essential services and resources across Middle Tennessee. Every day, AgeWell staff provide information and referral assistance (by phone, online or in-person), print and online resources, and educational outreach to older adults, caregivers, professionals, businesses, and faith communities. AgeWell also convenes groups like the Middle TN Elder Watch and Leadership Council to foster thought leadership and collaboration among service providers in our region. There are several enduring programs that AgeWell has created in partnership with other agencies: Senior Ride Nashville, planned and launched by AgeWell and the Senior Transportation Leadership Coalition in 2017; the Living at Home Program, enabling seniors to age in place; Discover Williamson (formerly Discover Franklin and now part of Williamson Parks and Recreation), helping active older adults learn more about their community and how they can make a difference by volunteering; and Senior Solutions, an information and referral service now operated by the Area Agency on Aging & Disability.

Impact

AgeWell has evolved over the past five years to address larger needs and develop replicable solutions. The best example of this was convening the Senior Transportation Leadership Coalition and ultimately launching Senior Ride Nashville (SRN), an assisted ride service, in 2017. SRN addresses a major unmet need and offers door-through-door ride service to older adults in Davidson County who no longer drive, provided primarily by volunteer drivers using their own cars. SRN is modeled after hundreds of successful volunteer driver programs across the country and was carefully planned by AgeWell and the coalition for almost two years. This is a 'game changer' for older adults in Nashville who no longer drive and enhance mobility and social connections between older riders and caring volunteers. Since 2017, SRN has provided more than 25,500 rides for older adults. They've also assisted Community Life Rides and Wilson Rides in replicating the volunteer ride program model in Sumner and Wilson counties.

Further evidence of our growing impact is demonstrated in these 2022 benchmarks: 1) continued distribution of our Directory of Services, distributing,12,832 copies and tracking 30,170 online views; 3) provided community education to 575 older adults, caregivers, and professionals; 4) responded to 433 calls to our Helpline for information and referral assistance; 5) provided caregiver support to 226 family caregivers through our social enterprise, Eldercare Coach; and 6) partnered with over 35 organizations to champion older adults

Needs

With 10,000 baby boomers turning 65 every day in the U.S. and Tennessee trending above the national average for older adults (14% growing to 22% by 2020), AgeWell's work is more vital today than ever. AgeWell is respected as a trusted source of impartial information and a successful convener for developing collaborative solutions for unmet needs. Our most pressing needs include funding to expand our program staff to meet the growing needs of the community and to integrate technology with our initiatives; partnerships with local businesses that wish to develop caregiver-friendly policies and support employees caring for elders; and volunteer support to help with outreach and education across our 13-county service area in Middle Tennessee.

CEO Statement

I love AgeWell because no other organization is charged with identifying the unmet needs of older adults and caregivers and then convening people and organizations to develop comprehensive solutions. It's the heart of our mission and why AgeWell was created over 35 years ago. Whether it's senior transportation, caregiver support, elder abuse prevention, or advocacy for affordable housing, AgeWell is poised to identify needs and drive collaborative solutions. There's no better example of this than our role as convener of the Senior Transportation Leadership Coalition in 2015 to address the long-standing gap in affordable door-though-door transportation. After two years of collaborative planning and fundraising, we launched Senior Ride Nashville in 2017 as a new 501(c)3 nonprofit. I can honestly say that being part of the leadership team for this coalition effort was a highlight of my professional career, and I am most grateful to Board member, Ed Cole, for his outstanding leadership of this initiative, as well as to Project Director Dr. Yoko Crume, SRN Executive Director Carrie Brumfield, and several foundations and sponsors. It delights me that AgeWell staff and board members continue to support Senior Ride Nashville (Davidson County), Community Life Rides (Sumner County), and Wilson Rides (Wilson County) as they enrich the lives of older adults and volunteer drivers.

In addition to senior transportation, AgeWell is focused on several other priority initiatives: elder abuse and scam prevention, our Directory of Services, caregiver support and education, advocacy for affordable housing, and honoring older adults through our annual Sage Awards. Looking back over the past 35 years, it's hard to imagine Middle Tennessee without an organization that champions positive aging and brings people and organizations together to develop needed solutions.

Board Chair Statement

STATEMENT FROM BOARD CHAIR
AgeWell Middle Tennessee champions informed and positive aging and serves as the area's catalyst for collaborative solutions. For over thirty-five years, AgeWell has led collaborative work with individuals and organizations to address the unmet needs of older adults and caregivers. As a trusted convener, AgeWell identifies needs, brings people and organizations together, and serves as an important catalyst for our community to develop creative solutions and bring those solutions to life. We take our role as a trusted community resource and a major player in the well-being of older adults very seriously.
Our mission statement guides us in our efforts with these words: AgeWell Middle Tennessee champions informed and positive aging and serves as the area's catalyst for collaborative solutions.
We focus our work on several major projects while supporting many collaborative efforts.
Our current strategic priorities include:
• Developing our social enterprise "Eldercare Coach", partnering with employers to support employee caregivers,
• Preventing elder abuse and scams via education and advocacy,
• Advocating for sound public policies that benefit older adults

AgeWell is grateful for our partnerships with various organizations throughout Middle Tennessee, and, as unmet needs impacting the lives of older adults and caregivers become known, we will strive to make a significant difference. Together, we are dedicated to strengthening our region and enhancing our communities to promote aging well. On behalf of the board of directors and staff of AgeWell Middle Tennessee, we thank you for your support and invite you to partner with us as we strive to accomplish our mission.

Service Categories
Primary Category:	Human Services  - Senior Centers/Services
Secondary Category:	-
Tertiary Category:	-

Areas Served

AgeWell works collaboratively with numerous agencies in the 13 counties of Middle Tennessee. In addition, our Directory of Services is distributed free of charge through public library branches and other community distribution points in all 13 counties. Our staff responds to information and referral calls from throughout Middle Tennessee, the state, and across the country.

TN - Cheatham

TN - Davidson

TN - Dickson

TN - Houston

TN - Humphreys

TN - Montgomery

TN - Robertson

TN - Rutherford

TN - Stewart

TN - Sumner

TN - Trousdale

TN - Williamson

TN - Wilson