The Adult and Aging Services Division of the Sonoma County Human Services Department consolidates the Area Agency on Aging (AAA), Adult Protective Services, In-Home Support Services (IHSS), Linkages, the Multipurpose Senior Services Program, the Public Administrator/Public Guardian/Public Conservator, IHSS Public Authority, and the Veterans Service Office to better serve the community. The goal of the division is to assist older adults, people with disabilities, veterans, and their families to maximize self-sufficient, safety, health and independence. With the exception of some of the AAA —funded services, the Adult and Aging Services Division’s programs serve seniors who need help to overcome barriers to remaining independent. Some of the AAA-supported programs that aim to help seniors prevent issues that would keep them from being independent include senior center services, the Matter of Balance fall-prevention program and My Care, My Plan: Speak Up Sonoma County, an advance care planning community initiative.

Established in 2014, The Aging Together Sonoma County initiative takes an “upstream” approach by working to connect existing assets and resources throughout the community to help people of all ages thrive across their lifespan. The initiative is working to address the needs of the County’s senior population, and to garner greater community wide support in addressing such needs as community connectedness, transportation, varied housing options, healthy living, lifelong learning, employment and financial security, and health and community-based social services.
Supported by the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors, the Human Services Department and the Department of Health Services provide the backbone support for the initiative. In April 2016, the Board further confirmed its support of by granting approval for Aging Together to apply to WHO’s Age-Friendly City and Community Network on behalf of the County, The Board also allocated funds for a coordinator position to organize work on the Age Friendly Community effort.