Last Updated: September 14, 2026
The National council on Aging (NCOA) has been serving older Americans for more than 75 years. The NCOA has been around since 1950, making it the oldest national organization dedicated solely to older Americans. The NCOA‘s mission is simple: “to improve the lives of millions of older Americans by providing the tools, information and services they need to stay healthy, financially secure, socially connected and independent”.
NCOA doesn‘t operate each local senior center or provide every meal. It develops national tools, conducts training for local organizations, advocates for policy change, and develops free online resources that local groups worldwide can use. The next large target is to create 100 million healthier and happier birthdays by 2040. The agency already achieved a previous target of enhancing the lives of 40 million senior citizens ahead of schedule.
This is an overview of the key NCOA resources and programs explained clearly and simply, with what they are, whom they help, how to access them, updates, and a handson comparison so you can see what might work for you or someone you care for.
A Quick Look at NCOA’s Approach
NCOA focuses on four main ways of helping:
- Resources – Clear, unbiased information on health, money, benefits, and daily living.
- Tools – Free online checkers and planners that match people with real help.
- Best practices – Training and support for the local groups that work with older adults every day.
- Advocacy – Pushing for stronger federal programs such as Medicare improvements, the Older Americans Act, and benefits that help low-income seniors.
For every dollar raised, about 93 cents goes into programs. Recent impact numbers show hundreds of millions of dollars in benefits applications submitted, tens of thousands of people taking part in health workshops, and millions of community service hours logged through related efforts.
BenefitsCheckUp: The Starting Point for Many Families
A well-known resource developed by the NCOA is BenefitsCheckUp, a free and confidential online screening tool launched in 2001. It is designed to determine what resources people (age 55 and older, or with a disability) are eligible to receive but not already receiving.
You fill out a questionnaire about your income, where you live, your health needs, and your household. Then, it provides you with a list of federal, state, and local programs that can help with:
Medicare Savings Programs: programs that help pay for Medicare premiums, deductibles, co-insurance, and co-payments. Extra Help: program that provides help with prescription drugs.
SNAP (food aid)
Medicaid
Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
Housing assistance
Other aid from the area
Over 2,000 benefits there. Website is also available in the Spanish language. The latest updates have speed up the searching process you only need to enter a keyword (such as “food” or “medicine”) with your ZIP code for instant results; and there‘s a map showing local agencies which will assist to apply in person.
Too often, many older Americans leave money on the table simply because they do not know the programs exist or how to apply. BenefitsCheckUp was developed to bridge this gap. In just the last few years, NCOA affiliates have assisted our friends and neighbors in submitting applications for public assistance totaling hundreds of millions of dollars.
If the online application is a bit too much, NCOA offers a network of Benefits Enrollment Centers (BECs), local community organizations staffed by trained counselors. As of March 2026, NCOA reported awarding more than $18.5 million in funding for 90 of them in 40 states and territories. The BECs utilize BenefitsCheckUp and offer one-on-one assistance with applications for health care, prescriptions, food, and utilities. Past BEC cycles reported helping tens of thousands of people each year complete applications valued at hundreds of millions of dollars.
Simple comparison of benefits access options
| Option | How it works | Best for | Cost | Support level |
| BenefitsCheckUp online | Answer questions, get matched programs | People comfortable with computers or with family help | Free | Self-guided + links to apply |
| Benefits Enrollment Centers | In-person or phone help from trained staff | People who prefer talking to someone or need application help | Free | High – counselors walk through forms |
| Local Area Agency on Aging | Broader aging services, often connected to NCOA tools | General needs plus benefits | Free or low-cost | Varies by location |
Center for Healthy Aging: Evidence-Based Programs That Work
Living a healthy life is even more critical (and sometimes more challenging) as you grow older. NCOA’s Center for Healthy Aging develops evidence-based programs that empower older adults to manage chronic health conditions, avoid falls, and remain physically active.
Two major efforts stand out:
Chronic Disease Self-Management Education (CDSME)
The courses provide life skills for conditions like diabetes, arthritis, heart disease, lung problems etc. Attendees are supported to learn about their condition(s) and to how to communicate with medical practitioners; eat in a healthier way; keep active and come to terms with the lived experience of longstanding illness. Courses are generally facilitated by trained practitioners and often by those who themselves have personal experience of chronic conditions.
During one recent fiscal year, over 12,900 people participated in nearly 1,000 CDSME workshops; in the long term, NCOA-supported efforts have served hundreds of thousands of participants through tens of thousands of workshops. Results are tracked through a huge national database so organizations can learn and grow.
Falls Prevention Programs
Falls are a major cause of injury in the elderly. NCOA‘s National Falls Prevention Resource Center promotes evidence-based programs and community actions designed to reduce the risk. Program offered are mainly associated with physical activity including balance and strength skill sessions, environmental assessments and information campaigns.
Falls Prevention Awareness Week through state coalitions, media, and local events and has touched millions of lives. In 2025, NCOA initiated a State Falls Prevention Coalition program in which 18 grantees have received funding for statewide efforts. Other fellows have been added to help translate research into practice.
The providers of these programs are ideal for delivery to senior centers, community organizations, and health organizations. Several of these programs are approved for funding under the Older Americans Act which can provide support to local agencies to sustain them.
Program Aging Mastery 9 and similar offerings
The Aging Mastery Program was designed as an engaging, practical workshop series that inspires 50+ participation to intentionally take action in improving a variety of lifestyle areas including health, finances, relationships and community connections. Its main curriculum includes ten topics, where members work toward personal goals and actively practice maintaining new behaviors while fostering accountability and a peer support system. Editions for caregivers and a series of elective sessions has been authored on featured topics: memory, home safety, and working with health professionals.
The formal classroom version has morphed over time, but the idea is the same: Provide individuals with a clear playbook and peer support, so all the small steps build up over time. Various other self-directed kits and digital variations extend reach.
Support for Senior Centers and Local Organizations
Senior centers are often the gateway for older adults. The National Council on the Aging‘s Ntional Institute of the Senior Centers (NISC) enhances the capabilities of senior centers by providing best practices, training, award-winning programs, and technical assistance in advocacy.
NISC operates a system of affiliates (thousands of centers over the years), and advertises Programs of Excellence annually. In the past, categories have included social connection and engagement, important because loneliness and isolation impact health as much as certain ailments; with recent award ceremonies showcasing innovative local activities including a film series for elders with dementia, programs encouraging outdoors discovery and peer support for older veterans.
NCOA offers technical assistance, online learning for professionals (hundreds of thousands of attendees in recent years), and grant resources that go to community based groups. Over the course of several years, NCOA has awarded hundreds of millions of dollars in grants directly to local groups.
Help for Mature Workers: Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP)
Many people want to or have to work beyond the traditional retirement age. NCOA is a national sponsor of the Senior Community Service Employment Program, sponsored by the U. S. Department of Labor.
The Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP): Provides job training and community service opportunities to low-income workers aged 55 and over. Trains participants and provides services to the community by placing them in local nonprofit and government organizations. Over the last two years (FYs 95 and 96) thousands of participants served millions of hours of community service and hundreds of participants were placed into jobs that were not subsidized.
