09/10/2026
✨September Business Spotlight✨
This month we are highlighting Area Office on Aging of Northwestern Ohio, Inc.! Let's learn more about them.
🔵Can you share the story behind the founding of Area Office on Aging and what inspired its creation?
"In 1979, the staff approached the Board of Trustees of United Way, Community Planning Council, and Ohio Commission on Aging, aka, the Ohio Department on Aging, and requested permission to organize a free-standing, independent, private, non-profit corporation to better serve Northwestern Ohio's older adult population. The corporation was established as a comprehensive agency for older adults, responsible for planning, policy-making, funding, advocacy, and programs and services for a ten-county region in northwestern Ohio. This northwest Ohio area includes Defiance, Erie, Fulton, Henry, Lucas, Ottawa, Paulding, Sandusky, Williams, and Wood counties."
🌳How does your business contribute to the local community in Sylvania?
"The Area Office on Aging is responsible at the local level, for the development and implementation of a comprehensive and coordinated service delivery system for older adults residing in northwestern Ohio. It is also responsible for regional and local planning and development of programs and services. Serving as the focal point for leadership for regional planning and service development for programs on aging; Developing and maintaining a comprehensive and coordinated system of services for older adults in Defiance, Erie, Fulton, Henry, Lucas, Ottawa, Paulding, Sandusky, Williams and Wood Counties; Providing direct services to older adults in areas where services are needed, and not available; Developing and implementing a plan, approved by the Ohio Commission on aging (or its successor under the Older Americans Act); Granting or contracting funds and resources to qualified, non-profit, private or public agencies to operate services and programs for older adults."
✨How do you foster a positive work culture within your company and what do you look for when hiring new employees?
"Our focus is on the aging population in Northwestern Ohio and we look for employees dedicated not only to the position they apply for but dedicated to the population we serve. Our kind and compassionate team works each day to ensure the Area Office on Aging is doing everything it can to improve the lives of members of our community. There are many experts within the field working at the AOoA but we all work toward one goal and recognize the demands upon each and every co-worker and respect their skills and dedication."
🪴How does your business support and nurture your employees’ growth and well-being within the business?
"Many positions within the AOoA require continuous training and updating of licensure but the agency seeks out and provides opportunities for employees to advance their skills and also work toward their career goals. We provide opportunities for team members to attend national conferences, training opportunities and hone in on leadership skills through in-house leadership training. Opportunities for movement within the organization are highly encouraged and all new and open positions are available to current staff before advertising publicly."
💖Could you describe a particularly memorable experience the team has had while in operation?
"The accomplishments of the Area Office on Aging are vast and it's difficult to highlight a single achievement but the awards and recognition this agency has received speak for the work done by this dynamic organization.
• Trailblazing in the affordable senior housing market by being one of the first of the 600+ Area Agencies on Aging in the nation to develop affordable senior housing, so over 1,300 older northwest Ohioans over the last four decades have had a safe, affordable, accessible, and beautiful place to call home in the rural parts of northwest Ohio.
• Transforming the 46-acre Lakewoods Campus in South Toledo from several dilapidated, vacant buildings to an older adult housing and service-rich campus where people can access meals, home care, social and recreational activities, transportation, and more.
• Leading the way for Lucas County to be the first urban county in the State of Ohio to secure local resources to provide 11,000 hours of home care, 300,000 meals, 4,000 days of adult day services, and additional senior services each year.
• Winning 16 national innovation and achievement awards from USAging for innovative programming.
• Receiving the National Committee for Quality Assurance Accreditation for the AOoA’s work, providing a personal guide to help individuals age 60+ with navigating the complex healthcare and social service systems to get connected with the healthcare and social services they need."
❓What do you think is the biggest misconception people have about your industry, and how do you address it through your business?
"The biggest misconception is that the Area Office on Aging only assists based on income. This is a total falsehood. The Agency provide caregiver and respite support for family and friends caring for someone who cannot care for themselves. We also provide assistance to grandparents/family raising school aged children. We conduct home health checks for anyone signed up with us, and we have a department dedicated to Veteran's services. None of these services are income based."
🎶If your business had a theme song, what would it be and why?
"Lean on Me"
