History of COA

The story of the Council on Aging of Volusia County, Inc. (COA) began in May of 1966 when the Honorable Haydon Burns, then Governor of Florida, appointed 15 Volusia County citizens to evaluate the needs of the elderly. The group elected to incorporate as a non-profit organization called Volusia County Citizens Advisory Council on Aging, The Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws were adopted on March 23, 1967.

The newly formed Council’s first project, under Title III of the 1965 Older Americans Act, was approved February 1, 1967. The project, “Community Planning for the Elderly”, became operational March 1, 1967. The State Commission on Aging approved a grant totaling $18,495, of which $5,105 were in-kind contributions in lieu of cash by the City of Daytona Beach and other contributors.

From this small beginning, the Citizens Advisory Council on Aging continued to expand, obtaining various additional Federal, State and local grants and implementing many new programs, including Congregate Dining, Meals on Wheels, Community Care for the Elderly (CCE), Alzheimer’s Disease Initiative (ADI), and Home Care for the Elderly (HCE). The Council initiated Volusia County’s Para transit operation for disadvantaged and disabled individuals and managed this service for 12 years until it was acquired by the Volusia County public transit system in July 1994.

In 1991 the agency assumed a new role in court-appointed Guardianship. This service was initiated to support those elderly who voluntarily or involuntarily become unable to ensure their own physical and mental wellbeing and need to have their welfare managed.

In April 1976, the Organization was renamed Volusia County Council on Aging and in February 1993 adopted its current title: Council on Aging of Volusia County (COA).

In September 2006, the Organization opened its Home Health Agency, which was later sold in 2012.

In January 2009, the Private Pay Division (In-Home Services) was added to provide services to any individual able to pay for them. This addition was to continue to have the continuum of care offered by the Agency grow.

In May 2011, COA added Housekeeping and Handyman services to its multiple operations.

COA maintained its headquarters at 160 North Beach Street, Daytona Beach until the building was rendered uninhabitable by Hurricane Irma in 2017. After some temporary moves, the new headquarters were founded in 2018, now located at 420 Fentress Blvd, Daytona Beach.