SWIRCA: Southwestern Indiana Regional Council On Aging

OUR SERVICES

Social Services

Nutrition Services

Transportation Services

Preventive Health Services

Other Services

Volunteer Services

SOCIAL SERVICES

CASE MANAGEMENT:

A compound service comprised of assessment and related activities, including care planning, service linkage, a advocacy, service monitoring and reassessment. Case managers act on behalf of persons in guiding them to services or agencies to meet their social, emotional, physical, and economic needs and to prevent premature or inappropriate institutionalization. They conduct interviews in the privacy of clients' homes and they will work with the clients to help them maintain their independence. Case Management is a prerequisite for the initiation of all In-Home Services. Contact: 464-7816 or 1-866-400-0779

COMMUNITY & HOME OPTIONS TO INSTITUTIONAL CARE FOR THE ELDERLY AND DISABLED (CHOICE) PROGRAM:

CHOICE is a source of State funding which offers in-home services to elderly or disabled individuals who desire to live at home or in community integrated settings typical of residential arrangements in which non-disabled persons reside. The program is also intended to encourage more coordinated planning, give increased attention to CHOICE participant views, provide greater respect for participant preferences and value participant selection of providers as well as services. A case manager will visit the potential client in the privacy of their home and determine whether the individual is eligible to receive services. This is based on the level of impairment they experience due to physical and/or mental health disabilities and the availability of funds. Contact: 464-7816

MEDICAID WAIVERS:

Medicaid Waiver Services are those specific in-home and community-based services available for Medicaid reimbursement only under a federally approved "waiver" of certain federal regulations. Indiana's Aged and Disabled Medicaid Waiver provides services to aged adults and persons with disabilities who would otherwise require the level of services provided in a nursing facility. Eligibility requires the individual must he eligible for Medicaid and at risk of institutionalization. An individual who qualifies for the Medicaid Waiver must he given a choice to accept the Medicaid Waiver service(s) or be admitted to a nursing facility. The Autism Waiver requires the individual must have a diagnosis of Autism and requires care equivalent to that provided in an intermediate care facility (ICF) for the mentally retarded. The ICF/MR Waiver client must have a diagnosis of mental retardation or other related conditions and requires a level of care equivalent to care in an Intermediate Care Facility (ICF) for the mentally retarded. The Medically Fragile Children's Waiver requires the client he under eighteen (18) years of age and be "medically fragile" which is defined as a severe, chronic physical condition that results in a prolonged dependency on medical care or technology to maintain health and well-being.

Services vary by waiver type. Every Medicaid waiver has a set maximum number of persons it can serve statewide in one year. If the waiver's maximum number has not yet been reached, "open slots" will still be available to be filled for that particular Medicaid waiver based on a first come, first served basis. Once the maximum number of persons are served, the waiver will be closed and there will he no "open slots" until the beginning of the next waiver year. Access to these services is through SWIRCA's Case Management Program. Contact: 464-7816

RESPITE CARE:

This program offers families temporary relief from the daily challenges of caring for a dependent person at home. People who care for a frail, elderly family member often feel over-whelmed by the stresses and strains of that responsibility. They may be unable to leave their family member home alone to run necessary errands. They need time to take care of themselves, time to relax and time to leave their home. Through this program, SWIRCA purchases service from various home health agencies who send qualified, trained staff in to stay with the homebound person. Contact: 464-7816.

PRE-ADMISSION SCREENING:

PAS is a service offered to persons of all ages making application to enter a nursing home in Indiana which will provide them with information on possible alternatives.

Case managers will evaluate the individual's level of functional impairment and compare the costs of community services necessary to maintain that person at home with the cost of caring for them in a nursing home. A team consisting of the case manager and the persons' physician will make a recommendation/ decision regarding the most appropriate placement for the individual. The Indiana Office of Medicaid. Policy and Planning makes the final decision as to whether nursing home placement is approved for Medicaid recipients. By state law, everyone making application to enter a nursing home must agree or disagree to participate in Pre-Admission Screening. Failure to participate in PAS or entrance into a nursing home when placement is not approved makes the individual ineligible to receive Medicaid per diem reimbursement for one year after the date of admission. By federal law, all persons requesting admission to a nursing home must also be evaluated to determine whether or not, based on a medication they are taking or a diagnosis they have received, if that person might be better served by specialized mental health or developmental services rather than nursing home care. Indiana's PAS program meets the federal PASARR Program requirements. Contact: 464-7816.

NUTRITION

The Nutrition program provides well-balanced nutritious meals to persons age sixty and older, regardless of income. The meals are served Monday through Friday during the noon hour. People under 60 may participate if spouse is 60+ or if they are a guest of another participant. There is no set fee for the meals, however donations are encouraged and are essential for the operation of the program. Food stamps are accepted. Besides promoting better health through improved nutrition, the program is aimed at reducing the isolation of senior citizens. Nutrition Education is provided to all meal participants monthly. Contact: 464-7807

CONGREGATE MEALS:

Congregate meal sites are located throughout the six-counties of Area 16 including senior centers, senior apartments, community centers and public housing facilities where seniors can obtain other social and rehabilitative services.

HOME DELIVERED MEALS:

Meals are delivered to persons who are homebound and unable to prepare their own meals. Special diet meals are available throughout Area 16.

ADRC - Aging and Disabled Resource Center:

This service is available at SWIRCA's office. Callers will receive information about services for the elderly as well as referrals to the appropriate service provider agency. Contact: 464-7817 or 1-866-400-0779

TRANSPORTATION REMUNERATION

INCENTIVE PROGRAM:

The TRIP program is designed to assist socially and economically deprived persons age sixty and older by issuing tickets to be used as money on designated transportation carriers in Vanderburgh County. Contact: 464-7800

PREVENTIVE HEALTH:

SENIOR GAMES,

the annual River City Senior Games offers both competitive and recreational events, which provide the opportunity and the motivation for adults fifty years of age and older to participate in activities that contribute to physical, mental, social and emotional well-being. These games focus attention on the importance of regular exercise and offer an opportunity for socialization, in addition to celebrating the achievements of mature adults in their pursuit of excellence. Special events are designed for nursing home residents. The River City Senior games are sanctioned by the U.S. National Senior Sports Organization and participants may qualify to compete in the bi-annual National Games.

5K HARVEST RUN/WALK:

The annual 5K Harvest Run/Walk offers the opportunity for the whole family to take part and exercise together. There is no minimum age for runners or walkers. The focus of the run/ walk is to promote "family fitness" and increase overall awareness of our agency and the services that it provides to the community. Contact: 464-7800 and ask for Kristin Hood.

SWIRCA ACTIVITY CENTER:

The activity center is the primary center for Vanderburgh County senior activities. Open five days per week; Monday thru Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., the center's programs are available for anyone sixty years of age or older. there are no membership dues. Contact: 464-7804

OTHER SERVICES:

Other services provided by SWIRCA and funded by the Older American Act, Social Services Block Grant, CHOICE and Medicaid Waiver, include transportation, homemaker, homechore, adult Day care, senior centers, legal services, ombudsmen, nutrition counseling, attendant care, respite care, and home health services. Contact 464-7800

COUNTY COUNCIL ON AGING SERVICES:

contracts with the Area 16 County Councils on Aging in the counties of Gibson, Perry, Posey, Spencer and Warrick to provide transportation, handyman/homemaker and senior center services. For more information on specific services available, contact:

GIBSON: Gibson County Senior Center
212 S. Richland Creek Drive
Princeton, IN 47670
812-385-8818

PERRY: Perry County Senior Center
200 W. Fifth Street
Cannelton, IN 47520
812-547-8115

POSEY: Posey County Senior Center
611 W. Eighth Street
Mount Vernon, IN 4762O
812-838-4656

SPENCER: Spencer County Senior Center
319 S. 5th Street
Rockport, IN 47635
812-649-9828

VANDERBURGH: Vanderburgh County Council on Aging
c/o HandyMan Program
650 S. Governor Street
Evansville, IN 47713
812-464-7813

WARRICK: Warrick County Senior Center
3120 W. SR 62, PO Box 313
Boonville, IN 47601-0313
812-897-4437

VOLUNTEER SERVICES

SWIRCA'S volunteers have opportunities to work in many different aspects of the agency including staffing fundraising projects, assisting in program implementation in the SWIRCA Activity Program, the In-Home Services Program, the Nutrition Program, the TRIP Program, the Title V Program, the Preventive Health Program. SWIRCA seeks to match a volunteer's interests, time, and talent with one or more of the agency's projects. There is no minimum age requirement or time commitment to participate as a SWIRCA volunteer. Each volunteer's contributions of time are valuable resources to SWIRCA and are recognized during an annual volunteer recognition.

SWIRCA's state and federal funding levels are inadequate to meet needs. SWIRCA's success in providing services is directly related to its ability to generate support from the community. SWIRCA is a 501 (c) (3) corporation which. makes all donations to SWIRCA tax deductible. All donations shall be mailed to:

SWIRCA, 16 W. Virginia Street, P. O. Box 3938,
Evansville, IN 47737-3938, 812-464-7800,
1-800-253-2188

An Equal Opportunity Employer

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