The NEK Council on Aging Celebrates 40 Years!

The NEK Council on Aging traces its roots to 1974 when the Northeastern Vermont Development Association secured a grant to launch Project Seniors in St. Johnsbury. This was the second program of its kind in the state and offered a gathering place for older Vermonters to share a meal and visit with their neighbors.

By 1979, and with funding from the Older Americans Act, together with local and state resources, the program had grown to meet additional community needs in Caledonia, Orleans and Essex Counties. Civic leaders formed a Consumer Board to shepherd efforts to create the Northeast Kingdom Council on Aging, Inc., a registered non-profit corporation doing business as the Area Agency on Aging for Northeastern Vermont.

In 2014, the agency marked its 35th anniversary. Following a comprehensive, long-range planning initiative, the strategic decision was made to advocate under our legal name. As the Northeast Kingdom Council on Aging, we support the decisions of older Vermonters to choose the kind of person-centered care that best meets their goal of remaining in their chosen community. We also support veterans, adults living with disabilities, their families, and their caregivers. We continue to promote good nutrition as a way of life while encouraging both volunteerism and wellness as new directions for living well.

Our programs and services continue to grow and diversify in response to the changing needs of the population that we serve. One example is our involvement with NEK Prosper, a network of partners established in 2013 to improve residents’ health and well-being.