Aging & In-Home Services of Indiana

Aging & In-Home Services of Northeast Indiana, Inc. (AIHS) is the Area III Agency on Aging as designated by the U.S. Administration on Community Living and the State of Indiana. AIHS is the primary resource for older adults, persons with disabilities, and their caregivers, and a funder of services including support for the Councils on Aging in their nine-county service areas: Allen, Adams, DeKalb, Huntington, LaGrange, Noble, Steuben, Wells, and Whitley.

In 1974, AIHS was established as Northeast Area III Council on Aging as part of the national movement to provide community social services for older persons. The landmark legislation, known as the Older Americans Act, created the aging network which to this day continues to be the major vehicle for organizing and funding services to older adults. In 1994, the organization's name was changed to Aging & In-Home Services of Northeast Indiana, Inc. to better reflect the scope of responsibility and services. In 2003, AIHS moved from a rental space into their own building at the current location, 2927 Lake Avenue, Fort Wayne. President & CEO Connie Benton Wolfe was hired in May 2010. On July 01, 2012, Allen County Council on Aging merged into AIHS. President & CEO, Connie Benton Wolfe states Our mission has remained the same throughout our history, and our vision is clear we are the major resource, and we will be a catalyst for innovation for older adults, persons with disabilities, and their caregivers, to achieve optimal quality of life safe and independent in their own home.

Early on, Benton Wolfe established a set of Board-approved Strategic Organizational Priorities to identify gaps in need, as well as trends in the marketplace, and set targets for positioning the agency to move forward in the healthcare marketplace. Achievements from those priorities include integration of evidence-based programming into all service areas, academic research partnerships including funds from the national Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute, care transitions pilot project with one hospital now scaled up to 10 hospitals as well as skilled nursing facilities in 30 counties and funded by Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, and success in contracting with third-party payers. Foremost in each annual set of priorities is an emphasis on strengthening core services to demonstrate a commitment to wellness and healthy aging in their region.

In 2014, AIHS touched the lives of over 57,000 individuals through three avenues of support: planning for services, providing services, and funding services. AIHS is a community resource providing services at no cost or low cost with special emphasis on those vulnerable populations with the greatest economic or social need. However, AIHS is responsive to the needs of older adults, persons with disabilities, and their caregivers regardless of their income. Services are provided on a fee-for-service basis to those who exceed the income guidelines of the funding sources. Care Coordination services are also available on a fee-for-service basis to employers wishing to provide on-site support to employed caregivers.

On April 22nd, 2019 AIHS opened the doors to their new location at 8101 W. Jefferson Blvd., the building previously occupied by Physicians Health Plan of Northern Indiana. The larger space allows for expansion for both their lines of traditional services and their integrated care program. The current properties at 2927 and 3003 Lake Avenue are undergoing renovation for AIHS's new integrated care program: PACE.

PACE, Program for All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly, is a comprehensive, fully integrated, provider-based health plan for the frailest and costliest members of our society - those who require a nursing home level of care. The PACE philosophy is centered on the belief that it is better for frail individuals and their families to be served in the community whenever possible. Although all PACE participants are eligible for nursing home care, 95 percent continue to live at home.

Aging & Disability Resource Center

1. What is AIHS's Aging & Disability Resource Center (ADRC)?

The ADRC provides streamlined access to information, care options, short-term case management, and benefits enrollment across a spectrum of long-term care services and supports. Options Counselors can refer as well as connect you to an array of services. Our ADRC is a key component in Indiana's No Wrong Door (NWD) initiative to provide one-stop information and referral that will make it easier for all populations in need of long-term services and supports (LTSS) to learn about and access available services and supports.

2. What services can I receive from the Aging & Disability Resource Center (ADRC)?

You can receive information and referral as well as application and assessment for various federal and state-funded programs such as Medicaid Waiver, Medicare Low-Income Subsidy, Meals on Wheels, State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP), as well as non-income based private pay services to stay safe and independent in your own home.

3. Are there eligibility requirements or costs to participate?

There is no cost to call the ADRC for information and assistance. However, each program will have its own set of eligibility requirements and your Options Counselor can provide you with those specific requirements.

1. What is the Nutrition Program?

Aging & In-Home Services (AIHS) Nutrition Program is funded by the Older Americans Act (OAA). The Older Americans Act supports congregate and home-delivered meals for people aged 60 and older to address the problems of food insecurity, promote socialization, and promote the health and well-being of older adults through nutrition and nutrition-related services. Services are targeted at persons with the greatest social and economic need, with particular attention to low-income older adults, including low-income minority older persons, older persons with limited English proficiency, older persons residing in rural areas, and those at risk for institutionalization.

2. What services can I receive from the Nutrition Program?

AIHS offers three avenues of support to address the nutritional needs of older adults and persons with disabilities:

•    Meals on Wheels/Home Delivered Meals - Delivery takes place on scheduled routes. Delivery consists of either five (5) or seven (7) frozen meals complete with milk to meet the Older Americans Act (OAA) compliance with established Dietary Guidelines (DGs) and meet the minimum of 33 1/3% of Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for nutrients. Diabetic-specific meals are available upon request.

•    Congregate Nutrition Services Site Dining - Congregate nutrition services are provided at a variety of sites with many sites offering Wellness Cafe programs to older adults. Reservations must be made by Noon a minimum of one day in advance Monday-Friday. Diabetic-specific meals are available upon request.

•    Restaurant Voucher - AIHS has developed and implemented on a limited basis a voucher program allowing participants to patronize participating restaurants, order from a pre-approved menu of items meeting RDA during a timeframe set by the restaurants. No reservation is required. Vouchers are accepted at 4 sites in Allen County and at Parkview Hospitals in Huntington, LaGrange, Noble, and Whitley counties.

3. Are there eligibility requirements or costs to participate?

There is no cost to participate in the Nutrition Program. However, clients are encouraged to donate $3.00 per meal to support the program. Donations may be made in cash, by check, or charged to a credit card. Each program will have its own set of eligibility. Contact the Aging & Disability Resource Center (ADRC) at 260.469.3036 to request an assessment.

•    Meals on Wheels/Home Delivered Meals Eligibility - Individuals aged 60 or older. Requires completion of a Nutrition Assessment by staff to determine an individual's limitations in Activities of Daily Living (ADL) and need for home-delivered meals.

•    Private Pay/Meals on Wheels Premier - Individuals not eligible for OAA programs may choose to participate in the private pay program. Delivery consists of either five (5) or seven (7) frozen meals at a cost per meal of $6 plus a $2 delivery charge. Call 260-745-1200 to request more information.

•    Restaurant Voucher Eligibility - Individuals aged 60 or older. Availability of vouchers. OAA Nutrition Screening and Registration must be completed prior to receipt of vouchers.