The Department for Aging and Independent Living is designated as the State Unit on Aging by the Federal Administration on Aging. In accordance with the Older Americans Act Amendments of 1965 as amended through March 2020 and 45 CFR 1321. The Aging and Independent Living program is responsible for aging issues on behalf of all older persons in Kentucky. It is required to carry out a wide range of functions related to service delivery, advocacy, planning, coordination, interagency linkages, information-sharing, community preparedness, brokering, and evaluation. These functions are intended to focus on the development or enhancement of comprehensive and coordinated community-based service systems designed to help elderly and physically disabled adult Kentuckians maintain independence and dignity in their own homes and communities. This focus on community-based alternatives is consistent with Kentucky's plan developed in response to the Supreme Court's Olmstead decision and the State Plan on Aging.

The Aging and Independent Living program administers statewide services; develops the State Plan on Aging; allocates funds to the 15 Area Agencies on Aging and Independent Living (AAAIL) and approves AAAIL program plans, amendments, budgets, and contracts for local provision of aging and physical disabilities services. It provides education, training, benefits counseling, information and assistance to respond to the needs of older Kentuckians and those with physical disabilities.

The services administered to achieve these goals include:

• Title III Older Americans Act Nutritional Services provided through agreements with the AAAIL's include the Nutritional Services Incentive Program: For persons age 60 years and older, provides congregate meals at senior centers and home-delivered meals to the homebound elderly in each Kentucky county.
• Senior Community Service Employment Program (Older Americans Act Title V): Employs persons age 55 years and older who have incomes at or below 125% of the poverty level in part-time non-profit community work, such as senior citizens centers, with the goal of skill development and eventual placement in unsubsidized employment.
• State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP): (Section 4360 OBRA 1990, PL 101-508) provides benefits counseling and application assistance to Medicare eligible persons and those likely to be eligible for the Low-Income subsidy program, Medicare savings program, and Medicare Part D prescription drug program.
• Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program (Older Americans Act Title IIC, 910 KAR 1:210): receives and investigates all complaints from residents of nursing homes and personal care homes in Kentucky. Collects and analyzes data related to complaints and conditions in long-term care facilities to identify and resolve problems and submits information to appropriate licensing agencies to ensure compliance with regulations.
• Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC): (Sec 1110 SS Act and 42 USC 3031-30378) provides a single point of entry to all long-term services and supports with the goal to empower individuals to make informed choices and streamline access to services.
• Older Americans Act In-Home Services (KRS 205.460, 910 KAR 1:170 - 180): Provides in-home services to persons 60 years and older who have functional or physical limitations and are at risk of institutionalization. Services include personal care, home health aide, home-repairs, and respite.
• Homecare Program (910 KAR 1:180): This program is offered statewide through the AAAILs and provides supports and services for daily needs as well as coordination among caregivers and provider agencies to help adults at risk of institutional care remain in their own homes.
• Hart Supported Living (KRS 210.770-795): This program provides grants for a broad category of flexible, individualized services that, when combined with natural unpaid or other eligible paid supports, provide the necessary assistance to: enable a disabled person to live in a home of the person's choice, typical of those living arrangements for persons without disabilities; encourages integrated participation in the community; promotes rights and autonomy; enhances the skills and competencies in living in the community; and enables the acceptance in the community by promoting home ownership or leasing arrangements.
• Personal Care Attendant Program (PCAP) (KRS 205.900): A state funded program that provides personal care assistant services to adults with severe physical disabilities, who have functional loss of two or more limbs and need services to prevent institutionalization or to leave an institutional setting.
• Kentucky Family Caregiver Program (910 KAR 1:260): Supports grandparents, of any age, who are primary full-time caregivers for a grandchild no older than 18 years of age. Services include information and assistance, counseling, support groups, and training. Provides financial assistance in the form of a voucher to be utilized for the child's safety, stability, and welfare. To the extent funds are available, the maximum total assistance shall be up to $500 per grandchild in any one fiscal year.
• National Family Caregiver Support Program: A federally funded program serving family and informal caregivers who provide care to people 60 years and older or an individual of any age with Alzheimer's or a related diagnosis, as well as grandparents and other relatives 55 years and older who provide care to children up to age 19. Services include information and assistance, counseling, support groups, training, respite, and limited financial assistance.

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