Nebraska's Preparedness for a Growing Diverse Aging Population: A Survey of Area Agencies on Aging

This paper aims to examine the current efforts of Nebraska’s Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) to serve a growing diverse population of older adults (United States Census Bureau, 2023). This project is comprised of a survey created to gauge the thoughts and opinions of Nebraska AAA employees supplemented by a comprehensive literature review. The findings of the literature review indicate the need for an understanding of the importance of diversity and how it affects individual life experiences. The survey revealed that the AAAs are already making changes to reflect the population shift that is currently happening, such as specific programs and services tailored to suit different racial and ethnic groups, and partnership with culture-specific organizations. The study also highlights potential areas of improvement in the future, such as the need for improved language services for those with limited proficiency in English, the importance of culturally relevant programs and services that work for the unique needs and experiences of a truly diverse population. Overall, this project has shown that the AAAs are already able to recognize the critical need in serving an increasingly diverse population of older adults in Nebraska, although there is still a way to go, especially concerning adequate funding.