Area Agency on Aging & Disabilities of Southwest Washington receives award

WEST HAZEL DELL — The Area Agency on Aging & Disabilities of Southwest Washington was honored with an Aging Achievement Award by the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging. The agency was recognized among 48 others at a conference and trade show in New Orleans. The awards recognize programs that “develop and implement cutting-edge approaches to support older adults, people with disabilities and their family caregivers,” according to a news release. The Southwest Washington agency has worked with Kaiser Permanente and other health-care providers to develop referral infrastructure and workflows to enhance the coordination of care. Its Aging and Disability Resource Network has received 4,500 referrals from health-care partners since its launch in 2016. “From programs that focus on healthy aging or transportation to nutrition or social engagement, we commend them all and urge them to continue creating great programs like the ones highlighted in this year’s 2019 Aging Innovations and Achievements Awards,” Sandy Markwood, chief executive officer of the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging, said in a news release.