1010 SUA Mission & Responsibilities

Georgia State Seal

Georgia Division of Aging Services
Administrative Manual

Chapter:

1000 Division of Aging Services Introduction

Effective Date:

10/01/2025

Section Title:

SUA Mission & Responsibilities

Reviewed or Updated in:

2026-02

Section Number:

1010

Previous Update:

N/A - NEW

Summary Statement

The Older Americans Act intends that the State agency (also known as State Unit on Aging) shall be a leader on all aging issues on behalf of all older individuals and family caregivers in the State.

Mission in the Older Americans Act

The State Agency shall lead the development or enhancement of a comprehensive and coordinated community-based systems designed to assist older individuals and family caregivers in leading independent, meaningful, and dignified lives in their own homes and communities.

The OAA specifies that the State Agency’s functions include:

  • Advocacy

  • Planning

  • Priority setting

  • Coordination

  • Inter-agency collaboration

  • Information sharing

  • Training

  • Monitoring

  • Evaluation

The State Agency is also responsible for designating Area Agencies on Aging. Refer to Sections 3001 – 3003 in this manual.

Responsibilities in Georgia Code

The Department of Human Services is the designated State Agency to handle all programs of the federal government relating to the aging which are not the specific responsibility of another state agency as designated by the Georgia State government in O.C.G.A. § 49-6-2.

The Division of Aging Services is statutorily established in O.C.G.A. § 49-6-5.

O.C.G.A. § 49-6-3 authorizes the Department to:

  1. Promote the health of and medical services for the aging in working with professional associations, hospitals, and institutions

  2. Promote the rehabilitation of incapacitated older persons

  3. Establish a state-wide coordinated program with participation of employers, employee’s organizations, and state and local agencies to promote greater and more suitable employment opportunities for older persons

  4. Establish a program of research and education on housing of the aged by either public or private means as well as by the establishment of self-sustaining cooperative dwelling projects of aging persons

  5. Plan and promote recreational facilities for the aging

  6. Develop a program of adult education designated for older persons on subjects of particular concern to them

  7. Encourage the further research in the colleges and universities of the state on problems of the aging

  8. Encourage training of personnel to handle problems of the aging

  9. Promote community education in the problems of older people through institutes, publications, radio, television, and the press

  10. Provide consultation to communities and groups developing state-wide or local services for older people

  11. Provide consultation to the various departments of state government concerning matters relating to the aging

  12. Inquire into and make recommendations to the appropriate agencies, public or private, on any matter affecting the behavior, care, or welfare of the aging

  13. Enlist the aid of public and private agencies concerned with the welfare of the aging; and study and report on the functions and facilities of governmental agencies and institutions charged with the care, control, protection, and rehabilitation of the aging

  14. Serve as a communications clearing-house for information in the large and complex fields of human relationship in respect to aging

  15. Conduct or participate financially in conducting demonstration projects with counties, municipalities, or public or private agencies concerned with problems of the aging

  16. Do any other thing it deems necessary to promote the health and well-being of the aging citizens of this state not inconsistent with the purposes of this article or the public policies of this State

  17. Appoint such committees, on a nonpaid basis, as it deems necessary for carrying out the purposes of this article.

Division, Vision and Mission

Vision

Living Longer, Living Safely, Living Well

Mission

The Georgia Department of Human Services Division of Aging Services supports the larger goals of DHS by assisting older individuals, at-risk adults, persons with disabilities, their families, and caregivers to achieve safe, healthy, independent and self-reliant lives.

Authorizing Statutes in State Law

O.C.G.A. §§ 49-6-1 through 49-6-7, Services for the Aging

O.C.G.A. § 31-8-50 et seq., Long Term Care Ombudsman

O.C.G.A. § 30-5-1 et seq., Protection of Disabled Adults and Elder Persons

O.C.G.A. § 29-4-1 et seq., Guardians of Adults, specifically O.C.G.A. § 29-4-3(b.1)

References

45 CFR Part §1321.5 Mission of the State Agency

45 C.F.R. § 1321.7 – Organization and staffing of the State Agency

45 C.F.R. § 1321.11 – Advocacy Responsibilities