Our Community. Our Priorities. Our Plan.
The Klamath & Lake Counties Council on Aging invites older adults, people with disabilities, caregivers, community partners, service providers, Tribal partners, and residents of Klamath and Lake Counties to review our proposed 2026–2029 Area Plan and share their voice.
This plan reflects what we heard from our communities and establishes the priorities, goals, and strategies that will guide KLCCOA's work through 2029.
Public Comment Period: August 13 – September 12, 2026
Public comments will be reviewed and considered before final adoption of the Area Plan. A public hearing will also be held as part of the formal review process.
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.
That's why we're asking you to review it and tell us what you think.
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 don't have to read all 260 pages to participate in the public comment process. Review the full Area Plan, start with the Executive Summary, explore the budget, or focus on the sections that matter most to you.
Every comment is welcome, whether it's about the entire plan or just one issue that matters to you.
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.
Tell us what you think through our online Public Comment Form.
Public Comment Period: August 13 – September 12, 2026
Comments received during the public review period will be reviewed and considered before final adoption of the Area Plan.
Public Comment Opportunities
Online Public CommentThu, Aug 13https://forms.gle/HNQVNbbZRJN5xqfw6
Klamath CountyTue, Aug 25Klamath Basin Senior Citizens' Center
Lake CountyFri, Aug 28The Center/Lake County Senior Citizens A
Other Ways to Participate
Your Voice Matters
KLCCOA wants the public comment process to be accessible to everyone in Klamath and Lake Counties.
If you prefer not to use the online comment form, you may also submit comments by email, by mail, by phone, or in person at the KLCCOA office.
Printed copies of the proposed Area Plan are also available for public review. If you need assistance accessing the plan, an alternate format, or another accommodation to participate in the public comment process, please contact KLCCOA.
Klamath & Lake Counties Council on Aging
404 Main Street, Suite 6
Klamath Falls, OR 97601
Phone: 541-205-5400
Email: areaplan@klccoa.org
Printed copies are available for review beginning August 15, 2026 at: KLCCOA, Klamath Basin Senior Citizens' Center, The Center in Lakeview, and participating public libraries.
Thank You for Sharing Your Voice
Public Comment is open August 13 – September 12, 2026.
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. 💛