ma4 is the statewide association of Missouri’s ten Area Agencies on Aging. We are Missouri’s Trusted Voice on Aging. ma4 provides resources for information, services, and advocacy to improve the lives of aging Missourians. We advocate at the local, state, and federal level for services and supports that enhance the lives of older adults in the state of Missouri. ma4 is committed to building networks, collaborating with partners, and developing coalitions to support the needs of adults who are aging and adults with disabilities.
Missourians deserve to age with dignity, independence, and choice. Together with Missouri’s ten Area Agencies on Aging, ma4 works to make Missouri a place where we can all age well.
Our network of Area Agencies on Aging work in every county throughout Missouri to provide critical resources and support for adults who are aging, adults with disabilities, and their caregivers, to help them remain in the homes of their choice, for as long as they choose.
We advocate at the local, state, and federal level for services and supports that enhance the lives of older adults and adults with disabilities in the state of Missouri.
ma4 actively advocates for and with adults who are aging and adults with disabilities to:
- To promote opportunities and resources to sustain continued physical, social, and economic self-sufficiency.
- To support the capacity of aging adults to pursue choice, independence, and dignity in daily living.
- To protect aging adults from fraud, exploitation, neglect and abuse
- To advance social and policy changes that empower adults to age where they choose, as they choose
Whether on the federal, state, or local level, ma4 advocates on behalf of – and along with – aging Missourians so that they have the resources, services, and opportunities to live their best possible lives in the homes and communities of their choice.
2025 ma4 Advocacy Priorities
- Protect Critical Funding for Area Agencies on Aging
- Enhance food access and nutrition for older adults*
- Creation of Tax Incentives for Home Modification and Accessibility
- Protection to support the health and safety of older adults at risk of abuse, neglect, and/or exploitation
- Expansion of the Circuit Breaker Tax Credit
Protect Critical Funding for Area Agencies on Aging
AAAs receive funding through federal Older Americans Act (OAA) funding. Federal funding passes through the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Service (DHSS). DHSS and AAAs share a strong partnership and collaborate closely to ensure the needs of Missouri’s older adults are met. Protecting the flow of OAA funding to the AAAs is critical to ensure that vital needs are met so that older adults can remain in their homes with the resources they need to remain healthy and thriving.
Enhance food access and nutrition for older adults*
We support investment in expansion of nutrition support to improve food security for older adults.
Investing in the health and well-being of Missouri’s aging population is essential. Access to nutritious and affordable food is a fundamental determinant of health, especially for seniors who may face mobility limitations, fixed incomes, and chronic health conditions. By providing support for healthy eating habits, we can help older Missourians maintain their independence, improve their quality of life, and reduce the burden on healthcare systems. This investment aligns with the state’s commitment to a thriving and age-friendly community, ensuring that all citizens have the opportunity to live fulfilling and healthy lives.
An important initiative this next session where we will focus advocacy is increasing the Medicaid Meal Rate. AAAs deliver over two million meals for homebound recipients; the current reimbursement model does not cover the full cost of these meals, causing a tremendous financial burden for AAAs and cutting into the funding for other important services (note: Medicaid Meals are a separate service from federally funded home delivered meals/Meals on Wheels).
Expansion of the Circuit Breaker Property Tax Credit:
We support updates to Missouri’s Circuit Breaker to increase income eligibility and to index the credit and eligibility to keep pace with inflation.
Missouri’s Circuit Breaker Property Tax Credit is a critical program designed to help older adults and individuals with disabilities stay in their homes by offsetting property tax costs. Because the Circuit Breaker has not been updated since 2008, many deserving Missourians are currently ineligible. By modernizing the Circuit Breaker, Missouri lawmakers can provide timely and meaningful property tax relief to older adults, disabled veterans, and individuals with disabilities. This modest yet impactful measure will enable these Missourians to maintain their independence and continue living in their homes.
Protection to support the health and safety of older adults at risk of abuse, neglect, and/or exploitation
We support efforts to protect older adults at risk of abuse, neglect, and/or exploitation
We support polices and financial investment in the protection of older adults from the risk of abuse, neglect, and/or exploitation.
Explore Incentives for Home Modification and Accessibility
We support incentives for home modifications to support aging in place
As a nation and as a state, we are living longer lives and becoming a larger percentage of the overall population. And while most people indicate a desire to age in place in their own homes, many of us have not prepared our homes to age in place. Providing incentives for home modifications would expand our options for aging in place and benefit the entire community.
Stay up to date on the issues that ma4 is tracking during the 2025 Legislative Session –
View the 2025 ma4 Missouri Legislative Tracking Report Provided by
2024 ma4 Advocacy Priorities
- Expansion of the Circuit Breaker Property Tax Credit
- Expansion of Shared Care Tax Credit
- Explore Incentives for Home Modification
- Support Voter Protection Rights for Aging Missourians
2023 ma4 Advocacy Priorities
- Full funding for the Senior Growth and Development Fund
- Expand Circuit Breaker Tax Credits and Eligibility
- Restoration of Full MoRx Program
- Protection of Voting Rights
- Expand Digital Inclusion – Access and Affordability
