Local Office on Aging 

Roanoke, Va. 

Along with a number of other organizations throughout the country, the Local Office on Aging (LOA) was established in the 1970’s as a part of a governmental program to provide more support to older adults. The LOA provides over 25 community based services in the Roanoke area to help seniors, and particularly the frail elderly, to remain independent for as long as possible.

Recognizing the need to educate and encourage seniors to take a more active role in their health care, LOA has been offering the Stanford Chronic Disease Self-Management Program. However, as more and more older adults are diagnosed with diabetes, specialized diabetes education is also needed. The $7,000 2018 grant helped expand both the current and planned programs.

A 97-year old man, with significant hearing loss, recently lost his wife of many years. He told the class that he had not realized how much his hearing loss affected his interactions with others, nor how isolated it made him feel because his wife had always helped him function. Although he profoundly missed his wife, the course helped him realize that he could move into the next phase of his life independently.

To learn more about Local Office on Aging visit: www.loaa.org.