The older American act intends that the area agency on aging shall be the leader relative to all aging issuers on behalf of all older persons in the planning and service area. This means that the area agency shall proactively carry out, under the leadership and direction of the state agency, a wide range of functions related to advocacy, planning, coordination, inter-agency linkages, information sharing, brokering, monitoring and evolution, designed to lead to the development or enhancement of comprehensive and coordinated community based systems in, or serving, each community in the planning and service area. These systems shall be designed to assist older person in leading independent, meaningful and dignified lives in their own homes and communities as long as possible.