(Salem, Ore.) ?"? The Community Action Program of East Central Oregon (CAPECO) has been designated as the Area Agency on Aging to serve Hood River, Wasco, Sherman, Gilliam and Wheeler counties.
CAPECO currently administers the AAA in Umatilla and Morrow counties and provides many other services to Gilliam and Wheeler counties as the Community Action Program serving that area.
AAAs in Oregon are designated by the Department of Human Services' Aging and People with Disabilities (APD) program under the Older Americans Act to offer services that help older adults remain in their homes.
"CAPECO has created and maintained many partnerships to serve older adults and we look forward to our expanded role as head of the AAA in a seven-county region," said CAPECO Chief Executive Officer Paula Hall. "We will work with the local communities in the counties we serve to build programs that maintain local control, but also ensure older adults receive the support they need."
APD sought a new entity to assume the role of the AAA in Hood River, Wasco, Sherman, Gilliam and Wheeler counties when the former administrator, the Mid-Columbia Council of Governments, announced it would cease providing services under all its programs this past fall.

"We are pleased that CAPECO stepped forward to fill this important role as it has the community knowledge and resources to effectively serve the region," said Jane-ellen Weidanz, APD administrator for long-term services and support.
APD assumed administration of the AAA on February 1, 2018, and will continue until the program is transitioned to CAPECO on or about September 1, 2018. APD will be holding public meetings and seeking public comment on the change in service area boundaries inclusive of the seven counties.

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