Who We Are
AGE of Central Texas is a regional nonprofit organization that provides education and support to people all along the spectrum of growing older, no matter where they are on that journey. Each year, AGE serves more than 3,000 older adults and caregivers through its primary interrelated programs:
AGE’s leaders, employees, and volunteers are passionate advocates for older adults and those who care for them. We believe that aging cuts across all socioeconomic levels, touching everyone at some point in their lives.
Through education, advocacy, and support, AGE empowers the community to access resources that protect and improve the quality of life for everyone along the lifetime spectrum. Many of our services are free or low-cost, and AGE has a special concern for providing services to the poor.
AGE of Central Texas was founded in 1986 as “Austin Groups for the Elderly” by Bert Kruger Smith and Willie Kocurek. Their vision was to house under one roof a consortium of organizations that provided services to older adults. During the past 30 years, AGE and its programs have evolved organically to serve the pressing needs surrounding older adults and those who care for them.
In addition to developing its own programs based on the community’s greatest needs. AGE has quietly gone about saving small programs that otherwise might have failed, bringing them into the AGE fold where they have thrived alongside established programs.
AGE of Central Texas Thrive Social & Wellness Centers are a totally unique resource in Central Texas. With more than 50 years of combined experience among the full-time nursing and professional staff, specializing in care of people with Alzheimer’s and memory loss, AGE provides respite to caregivers and socialization to older adults at the only licensed adult day health centers in the region.
AGE of Central Texas is a steward of the Historic AGE Building, which is part of the legacy left by our founders, Bert Kruger Smith and Willie Kocurek. Originally a coalition of groups serving older adults and their caregivers, the AGE Building now serves as an incubator for start-up and small nonprofit organizations that provide a wide variety of services for youth, disabled people, families, and people with cancer as well as older adults. The 24 groups housed in the AGE Building share office equipment, meeting space, and other resources, and often collaborate with each other.
How We Are Different
AGE of Central Texas offers the only licensed adult day care programs in Central Texas, with the AGE Thrive Social & Wellness Centers located in Austin and Round Rock. The adult day health care program is a totally unique resource in Greater Austin. With more then 50 years of service combined, these two centers have been the leaders with a staff of nurses and aides that specialize in the care of those with memory loss. Our adult day health care programs offer therapeutic and social activities under medical supervision during the day. Participants engage in life-affirming activities like music, exercise, gardening, brain fitness, games, special events, and art therapy. While their loved one is being cared for, caregivers go to work, school, or simply receive respite.
AGE of Central Texas provides many free services to empower caregivers and older adults to make the most of every adult life stage, including caregiver seminars, support groups, free loans of equipment, early memory loss support and one-on-one customized counseling on navigating the other resources available.
AGE of Central Texas is a collaborative partner with dozens of other nonprofit organizations in Austin, in part by providing referrals and information about locally available services through the Resource & Information Center, and by providing free mobility and safety equipment to individuals through other agencies that serve older adults. AGE also collaborates with other local nonprofits that provide services to older adults.
Why This Work Is Needed
An estimated 5.4 million Americans have Alzheimer’s or similar dementias and the disease is growing steadily as the population ages. Today’s treatments only temporarily ease some dementia symptoms so the need for therapeutic adult day care and respite for caregivers is at an all-time high and growing. The population of adults 60 and over in Travis County will grow by 67 percent by the year 2020.