The Community Action Program of East Central Oregon, or CAPECO, has been designated as the Area Agency on Aging to serve Hood River, Wasco, Sherman, Gilliam and Wheeler counties.  The Oregon Department of Human Services’ Aging and People with Disabilities program sought a new entity to assume the role of the AAA in the five counties when the Mid-Columbia Council of Governments announced it would cease providing services under all its programs this past fall.  CAPECO currently administers the AAA in Umatilla and Morrow counties and provides many other services to Gilliam and Wheeler counties as the Community Action Program serving that area.   The state assumed administration of the AAA on February 1, and will continue until the program is transitioned to CAPECO on or about September 1, 2018.  Public meetings will be held on the change in service area boundaries inclusive of the seven counties.