Office on Aging Earns Prestigious Inform USA Re-accreditation
Published on August 03, 2022
Columbus, OH – The Franklin County Office on Aging is among a select group of organizations to be re-accredited by Inform USA (formerly known as the Alliance of Information and Referral Systems - AIRS), a professional membership association for Information and Referral (I&R) service providers. The Franklin County Office on Aging Senior Options program received its Inform USA re-accreditation which recognizes the quality of the information and referral service the Office on Aging provides to Franklin County residents aged 60 and older.
“I am thrilled that our agency has been recertified for this accreditation because it highlights the hard work and dedication our staff provides when helping our senior residents,” said Interim Director Chanda Wingo. “It also acknowledges the well-rounded processes we have in place and encourages us to continue providing thoughtful and innovative services to the aging population.”
Inform USA, which is the only credential available specifically focused on the I&R sector, has a multi-phase process that measures 200 different factors to determine a program's ability to effectively complete the responsibilities expected of them in their field. Throughout the credential process, programs must prove their ability to meet the 27 Inform USA standards and quality indicators in the areas of service delivery, resource database, cooperative relationships, disaster preparedness and organizational effectiveness.
As an I&R service provider, the Office on Aging regularly updates its resource database which contains community, social, health and government resources that are available to older adults. Through the Office on Aging’s intake line, case managers assess the needs of each individual and connect them to the best available resources that will effectively address their needs.
“The Senior Options program has always been our one-stop shop for seniors to obtain information and access services vital for them to age in place,” said Interim Assistant Director of Operations Barbara Sullivan. “We are extremely proud of attaining our Inform USA re-accreditation as we continue to provide quality information and services to our community.”
The Office on Aging joins more than 140 organizations in the United States and Canada to have successfully attained Inform USA accreditation. The agency initially received its Inform USA accreditation in 2009 and was re-accredited in 2014 and 2019. The 2022 Inform USA accreditation is valid for a five-year period and will be up for re-accreditation in 2027.
Franklin County Office on Aging Senior Options program has been providing community-based services to residents since 1993. Senior Options helps Franklin County residents aged 60 and older maintain their independence, while also supporting family members caring for an older parent, family member, or friend with limited abilities. Services include home-delivered meals, adult day care, respite care, minor home repair and more.
To learn more about the Franklin County Office on Aging, call (614) 525-6200.
The Franklin County Office on Aging (FCOA) provides centralized access to diverse services and programs that assist older adults, dependent adults and their families in the maintenance of independent living.
Learn more at Franklincountyohio.gov/officeonaging and follow FCOA on Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), LinkedIn, TikTok and YouTube.