The Area Office on Aging of Northwestern Ohio, founded in 1974 and chartered as a corporation in 1980, provides services to senior citizens that empower them to live independantly. It coordinates and monitors all senior programs and services, serves as the focal point for leadership for regional planning on development services, provides advocacy when needed and grants funds to qualified, nonprofit, private or public agencies to operate services for older adults. One of its major areas of work is for Alzheimer's or dementia care. It also runs a free, statewide program designed to assist seniors and their families with long-term care decisions, where a trained and experienced professional visits seniors in their home, helps assess their needs, discusses available services, eligibility requirements, financial resources necessary and creates a plan of care.