The majority of baby boomers will retire in the next twenty years. There are currently thirty-nine million individuals aged sixty-five or older, as reported by the United States Census Bureau. » (Hodges) There has been a significant increase in the population of individuals aged sixty-five and older in the United States over the past two to three decades. These individuals will require a wide range of programs and services to regularly meet their physical, psychological, emotional, financial and spiritual needs. There will unfortunately be a shortage of qualified workers in the medical and assisting profession to diagnose and treat the various effects of aging on the human body. My grandmother's recent death from an aggressive form of lung cancer enlightened me to the notion of quality versus quantity in life. I was deeply saddened to see my grandmother take her last breath in a nearby hospital located in Charleston, South Carolina. Many Americans constantly face the debilitating consequences directly due to the diagnosis of an immediate family member with various forms of aggressive cancer. Advances in modern medicine have extended the longevity of human beings. Additionally, human longevity is limited by various factors such as the effects of aging, the stresses of daily life, the rising costs of effective medical treatments, and the federal government continuing to ease the level of funding for local, state and national community resources. and organizations receive to help diverse socioeconomic, minority, and ethnic groups. The Area Agency on Aging is strategically located in many surrounding communities to make a meaningful difference in the lives of others by donating to the organization and learning about available volunteer opportunities. and explain to individuals the importance of advocacy at the local, state, and national levels. Additionally, through the combined efforts of community leaders, political figures, business owners and compassionate citizens, the Regional Agency on Aging can successfully strive to meet the demands of its constituency. The agency can also implement innovative methods to accommodate the vulnerable population of older adults who may reside in rural areas, have inadequate access to public transportation, lack the per capita financial means to maintain a vehicle, be physically or mentally disabled and unable to afford it. medical treatment in a public or private establishment or to continue health care at home.