Mountain Empire Older Citizens, Inc. (MEOC) has received a 2026 USAging Aging Achievement Award, one of the highest honors presented by the national organization to its members, recognizing its innovative use of technology to connect older adults with health services.
The award honors MEOC’s “Employing Technology to Promote Healthy Behaviors Among Seniors in Southwest Virginia” initiative, which expanded access to nutrition education, exercise and health promotion services through telehealth and virtual programming. MEOC received the award in the Healthy Aging category.
The initiative combined telehealth nutrition counseling with virtual workshops and fitness opportunities to help older adults overcome barriers such as transportation, distance and limited access to health services. Through the program, older adults received one-on-one nutrition counseling from a registered dietitian and participated in live virtual sessions on nutrition, fall prevention, cancer prevention and healthy aging.
Presented during USAging’s 51st Annual Conference and Tradeshow in San Diego, California, the Aging Achievement Awards recognize successful programs that improve the lives of older adults and can serve as models for communities across the country. MEOC Nutrition Services Director Kristen Rutherford accepted the award on behalf of the agency. She was joined at the conference by Care Coordination Director Tiffany Jacobs and Chief Financial Officer Stephanie Sprinkle.
“This recognition reflects our commitment to finding new ways to make important health services accessible to the people we serve,” said MEOC Executive Director Michael Wampler. “Technology has given us new ways to connect older adults with services that can improve their health and quality of life. By expanding access to these resources, we’re helping more people stay healthy, independent and engaged in their communities.”
USAging, the national association representing Area Agencies on Aging, recognized 49 programs nationwide through its 2026 Aging Innovations and Achievement Awards. MEOC was among 33 organizations receiving an Aging Achievement Award for programs demonstrating excellence in community-based aging services.
This is the second consecutive year MEOC has received national recognition from USAging for using technology to improve services for older adults in Southwest Virginia.