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EnglishWhat Is JABA and Who Does It Serve?
Updated
JABA is a nonprofit that has supported adults 60 and older, adults with disabilities, and caregivers for 50 years. It operates as an Area Agency on Aging, serving Charlottesville City and the counties of Albemarle, Fluvanna, Greene, Louisa, and Nelson in Central Virginia. If you live outside that footprint, JABA is not your local agency — but its service categories can help you identify what to look for closer to home.
Who JABA serves
JABA organizes its work around three broad groups:
| Group | What JABA offers, per its site |
|---|---|
| Adults 60+ | Peer connections in your area, insurance counseling, nutrition, medical care access, and advocacy |
| Caregivers | Resources for both the person receiving care and the person providing it, plus help navigating complex situations |
| Everyone | Disability resources, caregiving support, intergenerational connections, and volunteer opportunities |
The framing on JABA's site is deliberately broad: "Everyone is aging, and we all can use help from time to time." That means you don't have to be a current client or a family caregiver to find a relevant entry point — volunteering and intergenerational programs are open categories as well.
What "Area Agency on Aging" means for you
An Area Agency on Aging is a regional organization designated to coordinate services for older adults in a defined geographic area. Two practical consequences:
- Your address determines eligibility for many services. JABA's coverage is Charlottesville City plus Albemarle, Fluvanna, Greene, Louisa, and Nelson Counties. If you're in one of those, JABA is the starting point for aging-related support. If you're elsewhere in Virginia, a different agency covers you.
- The scope is coordination, not just one program. JABA describes providing "comprehensive resources and support" rather than a single service, which is why the categories above span insurance counseling, nutrition, medical care access, and advocacy.
Where to start, depending on your situation
If you're an older adult looking for connection or practical help: the 60+ services page covers meeting peers locally and getting help with insurance counseling, nutrition, medical care access, or advocacy.
If you're supporting a friend or family member: JABA's caregiver support is aimed at both you and your loved one, with an emphasis on navigating complex situations toward the best possible outcome.
If you're looking for something else — disability resources, volunteering, or intergenerational programs: these sit under JABA's "other services" and are open to people of all ages.
A note on events and funding
JABA runs community fundraisers; its site lists a BINGO event at FIREFLY Restaurant on October 29, 6–8 PM, with proceeds going to services for older adults in Central Virginia. Events like this are one way to engage with JABA without being a service recipient — useful if you want to support the organization before you need it.
The site does not publish pricing or eligibility thresholds for individual services, so for anything specific — cost, waitlists, documentation — contact JABA directly rather than assuming a service is free or immediately available.