Our Community. Our Priorities. Our Plan.
KLCCOA’s proposed 2026–2029 Area Plan has completed its formal public review and comment period. Thank you to the older adults, people with disabilities, caregivers, community partners, Tribal partners, service providers, and residents who took part.
Public review was open August 13 through September 12, 2026. KLCCOA held two Community Conversations, with 23 attendees in Klamath Falls and 39 in Lakeview, and seven additional meetings at the request of members of the public. We also received one comment through the website. Feedback was supportive, affirmed the plan’s priorities, and offered ideas for future implementation. No public comment required a substantive change to the plan.
We continue to welcome feedback about the plan and the needs of older adults and caregivers in Klamath and Lake Counties. Feedback received after September 12 will be documented and considered during implementation and the next annual Area Plan update, anticipated in July 2027. It is separate from the completed 2026 formal public comment process.
The KLCCOA Advisory Council reviewed and approved the public-comment version. Following a separate ODHS/APD technical review, the revised plan is being presented to the KLCCOA Governing Board for final local consideration. Board approval and submission to the State Unit on Aging are pending.
The formal public review and Community Conversations are complete. KLCCOA continues to welcome ongoing Area Plan feedback for consideration during implementation and the next annual update.
What Is an Area Plan?
A Roadmap for Aging & Disability Services in Our Communities
An Area Plan is a multi-year roadmap developed by an Area Agency on Aging to identify the needs of older adults and caregivers in the communities it serves and establish priorities for meeting those needs.
As the designated Area Agency on Aging for Klamath and Lake Counties, KLCCOA uses the Area Plan to guide how we plan, coordinate, fund, and strengthen programs and services throughout our two-county region.
The plan helps answer important questions:
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What do older adults and caregivers in our communities need?
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Where are the greatest gaps and barriers?
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How should limited resources be prioritized?
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What should KLCCOA work to accomplish over the next several years?
The Area Plan also establishes measurable goals and strategies that allow KLCCOA, our Advisory Council, Governing Board, community partners, and the public to track our progress and hold us accountable.
Why Your Input Matters
An Area Plan isn't meant to be developed in isolation. Community input helps ensure that the priorities established in the plan reflect the experiences and needs of the people who live here.
Your feedback continues to help KLCCOA improve services and will inform implementation and future Area Plan updates.
About Our 2026 - 2029 Area Plan
More Than a Routine Update
Although 2026 would ordinarily be an update year, KLCCOA undertook a comprehensive overhaul of the Area Plan to better reflect the changing needs of older adults, people with disabilities, and caregivers across Klamath and Lake Counties.
The plan was shaped by community needs assessment surveys, listening sessions, demographic and service data, stakeholder engagement, Tribal and community partnerships, and input from KLCCOA's Advisory Council and Governing Board. It also reflects collaboration with the Oregon State Unit on Aging throughout the planning process.
What We Heard
Community input helped identify several recurring needs and challenges across our region, including:
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Transportation barriers and limited transit access
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Food insecurity and access to nutrition
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Aging in place and home safety
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Caregiver stress and the need for respite
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Healthcare access in rural communities
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Social isolation and loneliness
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Better access to information, referrals, and community-based supports
These themes helped shape the priorities, goals, outreach strategies, and service improvements included in the proposed Area Plan.
Built for What Comes Next
The result is a plan with eight strategic focus areas and measurable goals designed to strengthen services, improve equitable access across our rural and frontier communities, and prepare KLCCOA for the changing needs of our region through 2029.
Our Priorities Through 2029
The 2026–2029 Area Plan is organized around eight strategic focus areas shaped by community input, local needs, service data, and partnerships throughout Klamath and Lake Counties.
Together, these priorities will guide KLCCOA's work over the next several years.
Access & ADRC Modernization
Making information, options counseling, and services easier to find and navigate.
Nutrition Access & Healthy Aging
Strengthening food security and access to nutritious meals.
Aging in Place & Safety
Helping older adults remain safe, independent, and supported at home.
Caregiver Support & Social Connection
Tribal Partnerships & Culturally Responsive Services
Elder Rights, Legal Assistance & Protection
Supporting family caregivers and strengthening opportunities for connection.
Strengthening relationships, coordination, and culturally responsive access to services.
Promoting safety, dignity, legal rights, and protection from abuse and exploitation.
Health Promotion & Disease Prevention
Organizational Excellence & Sustainability
Expanding opportunities for healthy aging, physical activity, and fall prevention.
Strengthening the people, systems, partnerships, and resources that make our work possible.
Ready to Review the Plan?
Choose the way that works best for you.
You can review the full 2026–2029 Area Plan or start with its Executive Summary and budget. The formal public comment period has closed, but KLCCOA continues to welcome feedback on the plan and the needs of our communities. Feedback received now will be considered during implementation and the next annual update, anticipated in July 2027.
View the proposed 2026–2029 KLCCOA Area Plan.
Short on time? Start here for an overview of the plan, community needs, priorities, and strategic direction.
Review the proposed funding and service allocations supporting the Area Plan.
Share feedback for consideration during implementation and the next annual Area Plan update.
Other Ways to Participate
Your Voice Matters
KLCCOA welcomes ongoing feedback about the Area Plan and the needs of older adults, people with disabilities, and caregivers in Klamath and Lake Counties. You can use the online feedback form or contact us by email, mail, phone, or in person.
Printed copies of the plan are available upon request. If you need an alternate format or assistance accessing the plan, please contact KLCCOA. Feedback received after September 12, 2026, will be considered during implementation and the next annual Area Plan update, anticipated in July 2027.
Klamath & Lake Counties Council on Aging
404 Main Street, Suite 6
Klamath Falls, OR 97601
Phone: 541-205-5400
Email: areaplan@klccoa.org
Thank You for Sharing Your Voice
The formal 2026 public comment period closed on September 12. We continue to welcome feedback for the next annual Area Plan update, anticipated in July 2027.
Every comment received is an opportunity for us to listen, learn, and strengthen the plan that will guide our work through 2029.
Thank you for helping shape the future of aging and disability services in Klamath and Lake Counties.
In Klamath and Lake Counties, We Take Care of Our Own. 💛