Statements
Mission
The Council on Aging of Greater Nashville was founded in 1985 to address the unmet needs of older adults in our region. In 2021, we changed our dba name to AgeWell Middle Tennessee to better convey our passion for aging well. We are a trusted community resource, a convener and catalyst for solutions, and an advocate for older adults and family caregivers. For 39 years, we have served older adults, family caregivers and professionals through community education, resource navigation, advocacy, outreach and addressing unmet needs like senior transportation, caregiver support, affordable housing and financial insecurity. Our growing impact as a catalyst for solutions is best illustrated through our launch of Senior Ride Nashville, which has been replicated in Wilson and Sumner counties. We also created Eldercare Coach to support family caregivers, and this year we're launching RESET - Raising Economic Security to Ensure Thriving - to provide financial empowerment services for older adults in partnership with four other nonprofits. We're also working with Greater Nashville Regional Council and Nesterly to launch home sharing as an affordable housing solution, enabling older homeowners with extra space to find a compatible housemate and benefit from supplemental income and companionship.
AgeWell is a trusted resource, and we advance solutions to meet the critical needs of older adults and caregivers. We serve over 20,000 older adults, caregivers, and professionals annually through information and referral, community education, caregiver consultations and advocacy.
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 nearly 40 years, Council on Aging of Greater Nashville dba AgeWell Middle Tennessee has served as a trusted resource, champion 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) with information about 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 run by FiftyForward and Catholic Charities, enabling older adults to age in place; and Senior Solutions, an information and referral service now operated by the GNRC Area Agency on Aging & Disability.
Impact
In response to a rapidly growing older population and larger, systemic needs revealed during and following the COVID-19 pandemic, AgeWell has evolved and grown our capacity in recent years to address unmet needs and develop replicable solutions. A prime example of this was convening the Senior Transportation Leadership Coalition in 2015, studying service gaps and transportation models, 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 the service enhances 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 2023 impact numbers: 1) 22,000 copies of our Directory of Services distributed to older adults, caregivers and professionals across 13 counties in Middle Tennessee; 2) 10,167 unique visitors accessed our online Directory of Services; 3) 1,098 older adults attended scam prevention workshops in 10 counties; 4) 426 Helpline callers received information and referral assistance; 5) 377 caregivers were supported through our social enterprise, Eldercare Coach; and 6) we partnered with 50 organizations to champion older adults through leadership of the TN Coalition for Better Aging, our Leadership Council, AgeWell's Sage Awards and other community initiatives.
In 2024, AgeWell is focused on continued leadership of the TN Coalition for Better Aging, expanding family caregiver support through Eldercare Coach, working with GNRC to launch a home sharing pilot, and partnering with several other nonprofits to launch a financial empowerment network called RESET - Raising Economic Security to Enjoy Thriving.
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 employers and organizations that want to support their caregiving employees and members; and volunteer support to help with outreach and education across our 13-county service area in Middle Tennessee.
CEO Statement
As more of us grow older, it's vital to reimagine our communities to ensure we can all age well. I love working with our board and staff at 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 nearly 40 years ago. Whether it's senior transportation, caregiver support, scam 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, and both Sumner and Wilson counties have replicated the model.
Today, AgeWell is focused on several priority initiatives: financial empowerment, scam prevention, housing affordability, and caregiver education and support. We continue to work with partner organizations and state leaders to address service gaps and reimagine long-term services and supports through leadership of the TN Coalition for Better Aging. And we honor older adults for lifelong community service through our annual Sage Awards. Looking back, it's hard to imagine Middle Tennessee without an organization that champions informed and positive aging and brings people and organizations together to develop needed solutions. We invite you to join us in providing trusted information, developing innovative solutions and leading collective advocacy to ensure we can all age well. Together, we are making a difference!
Board Chair Statement
STATEMENT FROM BOARD CHAIR
At AgeWell Middle Tennessee, we're more than just an organization-we're a community dedicated to uplifting and supporting older adults and caregivers across the region. For nearly four decades, we've stood as a beacon of collaboration, working hand-in-hand with individuals and groups to meet the evolving needs of a rapidly growing demographic.
As a trusted friend and partner, we don't just identify challenges; we rally together to find innovative solutions that truly make a difference. Our mission isn't just a statement-it's a heartfelt commitment to championing informed and positive aging, nurturing a spirit of togetherness, and sparking meaningful change.
Our Directory of Services has been the most comprehensive guide to resources and supports for older adults in Middle Tennessee for decades. AgeWell was instrumental in launching Senior Ride to fill a transportation need and we're currently collaborating to launch a financial empowerment program. Every project we undertake is fueled by passion and purpose, from our groundbreaking caregiver support program - Eldercare Coach - to our vital work in preventing elder abuse and advocating for better policies and solutions to unmet needs.
AgeWell is supported by a passionate board and dedicated volunteers, but I'm most proud of our staff. Their wisdom, vision, and heart for older adults and caregivers is unmatched.
None of it would be possible without the invaluable support and collaboration of our donors and community partners. We're grateful for a shared vision of a community where older adults thrive and caregivers find solace and support. On behalf of everyone at AgeWell Middle Tennessee, we extend our deepest thanks. Together, let's continue our journey of empowerment, resilience, and, above all, compassionate care for all generations. Join us, and together, let's pave the way for a brighter, more inclusive tomorrow.
Service Categories |
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| 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 |
