This is a complete list of where to find Iowa senior services, aging information, area agencies on aging, and related links.
Iowa’s population reached the 3 million mark in 2010, and over the last decade has grown to have a population of 3.1 million. The state’s median age is 38, putting it at about the same as the United States as a whole.
Of Iowa’s total population, 17.5% is over the age of 65. By 2030, senior citizens are expected to make up 20% of Iowa’s population. Rural areas in the state tend to be older than metropolitan areas, and the overall population in rural areas has dropped in recent years. Interestingly, Iowa is different from many states in that rural Iowans tend to have a higher income than those living in urban areas in the state.
7.4% of Iowa’s senior citizens live in poverty, which is lower than the state’s overall poverty rate of 12.5%. 11.1% of Iowa seniors face food insecurity, though less than two-thirds of those over the age of 60 that are eligible for SNAP take advantage of the program. 3.9% of those age 65 or older avoid seeking medical care because of concerns about the cost.
Iowa has about 18 geriatric providers for every 100,00 citizens over the age of 65 and nearly 95% of seniors in Iowa have a dedicated healthcare provider. The state spends about $42 on community supports for every citizen over the age of 60.
88% of the Iowans who are enrolled in Medicare are over the age of 65 and of those, over one-third live with multiple chronic conditions.
Six Area Agencies on Aging serve seniors throughout the state, offering support for seniors as well as caregivers. Iowa also has a Department on Aging which oversees numerous programs and can serve as a resource for the state’s elderly population.
There are many elder services and resources in Iowa – you just have to know where to look! Below, we’ve provided links to the Area Agencies on Aging along with other organizations and programs that can offer assistance and support.
We try to keep these state resource pages as up to date as possible. If you find a broken link, please contact us to let us know. This helps us help others. Thank you!
Area Agencies on Aging
- Area 1 – Elderbridge Agency on Aging – serving Kossuth, Winnebago, Worth, Mitchell, Hancock, Cerro Gordo, Floyd, Pocahontas, Humboldt, Wright, Franklin, Sac, Calhoun, Webster, Hamilton, Crawford, Carroll, Greene, Audubon, and Guthrie Counties. Offices in Mason City, Fort Dodge, Carroll, Lyon, Osceola, Dickinson, Emmet, Sioux, O’Brien, Clay, Palo Alto, and Buena Vista
- Area 2 – Northeast Iowa Area Agency on Aging – serving Allamakee, Black Hawk, Bremer, Buchanan, Butler, Chickasaw, Clayton, Delaware, Dubuque, Fayette, Grundy, Hardin, Howard, Jackson, Marshall, Poweshiek, Tama, and Winneshiek Counties
- Area 3 – Aging Resources of Central Iowa – serving Boone, Story, Dallas, Polk, Jasper, Madison, Warren and Marion Counties
- Area 4 – Heritage Area Agency on Aging – serving Benton, Cedar, Iowa, Johnson, Jones, Linn and Washington Counties
- Area 5 – Milestones Area Agency on Aging – serving Clinton, Scott, Muscatine Mahaska, Keokuk, Lucas, Monroe, Wapello, Jefferson, Wayne, Appanoose, Davis, Van Buren, Louisa, Henry, Des Moines, and Lee Counties
- Area 6 – Connections Area Agency on Aging – serving Plymouth, Cherokee, Woodbury, Ida, Monona, Harrison, Shelby, Pottawattamie, Cass, Mills, Montgomery, Fremont, Page, Adair, Adams, Union, Clarke, Taylor, Ringgold, and Decatur Counties
State Government
- Attorney General’s Office
- Department on Aging
- Department of Human Services
- Department of Veterans’ Affairs
- Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program – established in each state by the Older Americans Act to enhance the quality of life, improve care, protect rights, and promote the dignity of residents in a long-term care facility.
State Agencies and Non-Profits
- AARP of Iowa
- Alzheimer’s Association:
- Center on Aging – University of Iowa
Legal Services
- Iowa Legal Aid – serving low-income Iowans
