Area Agencies on Aging in Indiana (2026 Guide)

Last updated: May 6, 2026

Sources checked through May 6, 2026.

Bottom line

Indiana Area Agencies on Aging are local offices that help older adults, people with disabilities, and caregivers find home care, meals, rides, Medicare help, caregiver support, and long-term care options. The fastest first step is to call 800-713-9023 with your ZIP code. The state also keeps a state AAA list so you can confirm the right office before you share personal details.

Quick help: who to call first

Contents

• Quick help
• Urgent help in Indiana
• Key Indiana facts
• What an AAA does
• Indiana AAA directory
• What AAAs can help with
• How to start
• Documents to have ready
• Phone scripts
• Local resources
• Reality checks
• Common mistakes
• Denied or delayed help
• Backup options
• Resumen en español
• FAQ

Urgent help in Indiana

Call 911 if someone is in danger, has a medical emergency, or may be abused right now. If you suspect abuse, neglect, or financial exploitation of an older adult, call Adult Protective Services at 800-992-6978. That number is listed on the FSSA contact page with the main Division of Aging numbers.

If you need food, shelter, utility help, or a safe place tonight, contact Indiana 211 by dialing 2-1-1 or 866-211-9966. You may also text your ZIP code to 898-211. 211 is often the better first call for same-week needs, while your AAA is often better for ongoing aging services.

For a fuller state help list, the GrantsForSeniors.org guide to emergency aid can help you sort food, housing, utility, and safety calls after you make the urgent call.

Key Indiana facts from official sources

What an Area Agency on Aging does in Indiana

An Area Agency on Aging, often called an AAA, is not just one office in Indianapolis. It is a local aging and disability help point. Indiana also uses the INconnect Alliance name for this network. The state says these agencies give information and service options to older adults, people with disabilities of any age, and caregivers. They help you find the right path, even when you are not sure what program name to ask for.

Most people call an AAA when something at home is starting to break down. A spouse needs more help with bathing. A parent stopped driving. A caregiver needs a break. A hospital discharge is coming. A Medicare notice does not make sense. Your AAA may not run every service itself, but it can connect you to agencies, benefits, meal sites, legal help, transportation, and long-term care choices.

For a broader benefits overview, use the GrantsForSeniors.org Indiana benefits guide after you talk with your local AAA. That page can help you spot other state and federal programs that may fit your situation.

Indiana AAA directory by service area

Use this table to find the right office by county. Phone numbers and county groupings were checked against the current official state directory. If you are not sure which county applies, call 800-713-9023 and give your ZIP code.

What Indiana AAAs can help with

Meals and nutrition help

What it helps with: Congregate meals, home-delivered meals, nutrition checks, and food referrals. Some areas also connect people to local pantries or food boxes.

Who may qualify: Many Older Americans Act meal services focus on adults age 60 and older. Home-delivered meals usually need more screening because the person may need to be homebound, at risk, or unable to shop or cook safely.

Where to apply: Call your county’s AAA or 800-713-9023. If you also need food benefits, Indiana handles SNAP through FSSA. Use Indiana SNAP for rules, then use the Benefits Portal to apply or manage a case. The GrantsForSeniors.org guide to food programs for seniors can also help you compare meal programs, SNAP, and pantry options.

Reality check: A meal route may not start the same day. Ask about pantry delivery, shelf-stable meals, or a senior center meal while you wait.

Transportation

What it helps with: Rides to doctor visits, grocery trips, meal sites, senior centers, and other needed stops. Rural counties may use volunteer drivers, local transit, or vouchers.

Who may qualify: Rules vary by county, funding source, and trip type. Medical trips may get priority. Some rides are for older adults, while other ride options may also serve people with disabilities.

Where to apply: Call your AAA and ask for transportation intake. If you live in a city, also ask whether public transit, paratransit, or county senior rides are separate from the AAA.

Reality check: Book early. Many programs need advance notice, and same-day rides are rarely available unless a local program has open space.

Home care and PathWays waiver help

What it helps with: Personal care, homemaker help, adult day services, respite, home modifications, and other home and community-based services when a person needs a higher level of help.

Who may qualify: Indiana PathWays for Aging is for eligible Medicaid members age 60 and older. The home and community-based waiver side is separate from basic PathWays coverage. Indiana’s waiver waitlist page says the PathWays waiver has 39,842 slots for July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026, and 11,791 people on the waiting list as of April 2026. The state also says there is no waiting list for the overall PathWays for Aging program, only for waiver services.

Where to apply: Start with your AAA for the screening. If you need plan choice or member support, use the state’s PathWays contacts page for the enrollment broker and health plan numbers.

Reality check: A waiting list does not mean you should wait to call. Get screened, keep your address updated, and check your status through the state online HCBS dashboard when needed. The state says it can take at least five business days for a new waiting list registration to show in the portal.

Caregiver support

What it helps with: Training, support groups, respite, short breaks, and practical help for people caring for an older adult or a person with dementia.

Who may qualify: The state family caregiver program can help adults caring for a person age 60 or older, some older relatives age 55 or older caring for children, and adult caregivers of people with Alzheimer’s disease or related disorders.

Where to apply: Ask your AAA for family caregiver support. If you need details on payment paths, the GrantsForSeniors.org paid caregiver guide can help you ask better questions.

Reality check: Respite money may be limited. Ask what is open now, what has a waitlist, and what paperwork must be finished before help starts.

Medicare, Medicaid, and benefits questions

What it helps with: Medicare plan questions, Medicare Savings Programs, Extra Help, Medicaid, notices, and benefit forms.

Who may qualify: Anyone with Medicare can ask for SHIP help. Low-income programs have their own rules. The state says Indiana SHIP gives free and impartial Medicare counseling and does not sell insurance.

Where to apply: Call your AAA for a local handoff or call SHIP directly at 800-452-4800. If Part B premiums are hard to afford, read the Indiana Medicare Savings guide and then ask SHIP or your AAA about next steps.

Reality check: Medicare plan help gets busy in the fall. Do not wait until the last week of open enrollment if you can avoid it.

Housing, assisted living, and nursing home concerns

What it helps with: Home safety, housing referrals, caregiver planning, assisted living questions, nursing home concerns, and long-term care choices.

Who may qualify: Anyone can ask for information. Some housing programs have income limits, waitlists, or local rules. Medicaid-funded long-term care has strict medical and financial rules.

Where to apply: Call your AAA for options counseling. For a housing search, the GrantsForSeniors.org guide to housing help can help you build a call list.

Reality check: Senior housing waits can be long. If you are already in a nursing home or assisted living and have a rights or care problem, the state Ombudsman contact page lists 800-622-4484 for complaints and resident help.

Utility help and home costs

What it helps with: Some AAAs can point you to utility aid, weatherization, home repairs, tax relief, or local charity funds. They may not run those programs directly.

Who may qualify: Utility and housing programs often use income rules. The 2025-2026 Indiana Energy Assistance Program closed on April 20, 2026, and the state says it will reopen in fall 2026 on the Energy Assistance page.

Where to apply: Call 211 for urgent utility shutoff help, ask your AAA for local programs, and check your utility provider for payment plans.

Reality check: Energy Assistance is a one-time annual benefit and may not cover the whole bill. If property taxes are part of your money problem, the Indiana property tax help guide may help homeowners find separate relief.

How to start without wasting time

• Write down your county and ZIP code. Indiana AAA service areas are county-based.
• Call 800-713-9023 first. Ask to be connected to your local AAA or INconnect Alliance member.
• Say your main problem first. Use simple words such as “I need meals,” “I need a ride,” or “I cannot safely bathe alone.”
• Ask what is open now. Do not assume every service is taking new people.
• Ask for the next action. This may be a phone screening, home visit, form, proof of income, or call to another office.
• Keep a call log. Write the date, person’s name, phone number, and what they told you.

Documents and details to have ready

Phone scripts you can use

Calling the AAA for meals or rides

“Hello, my name is ____. I live in ____ County, ZIP code ____. I am calling because I need help with meals or rides. Can you tell me what programs are open now, what the rules are, and what I need to do next?”

Calling about home care

“Hello, I am calling about help at home. I am age ____ and I have trouble with ____. I want to ask about a PathWays waiver screening or other home services while I wait. What is the first step?”

Calling SHIP about Medicare

“Hello, I need free Medicare counseling. I have a question about my plan, bill, or drug costs. I do not want to talk to a salesperson. Can I make a SHIP appointment?”

Calling 211 for urgent help

“Hello, I need help in ZIP code ____. My problem is food, rent, utilities, transportation, or safety. Is there any help this week, and can you give me the name and phone number of the program?”

Local resources that often work with AAAs

Your AAA is a strong starting point, but it is not the only door. Many counties also use senior centers, community action agencies, faith groups, township trustees, transit providers, food pantries, and legal aid groups. Ask your AAA which partners are active in your county this month.

Older adults caring for grandchildren may need a different set of supports. The Indiana grandparents raising grandchildren guide can help those families prepare questions before calling the AAA or FSSA.

For meals, activities, and local check-ins, a nearby senior centers page may help you find places to call while the AAA works on longer-term services.

Reality checks before you call

• Not every service is instant. Meals, rides, and respite may have waitlists.
• Free does not always mean unlimited. Older Americans Act programs do not have income limits, but funding is limited.
• County lines matter. Moving to another county can change the AAA that serves you.
• Medicaid waiver help takes steps. Screening, Medicaid eligibility, waitlist status, and final approval are different steps.
• Keep mail open. Waiver and benefit letters can have deadlines.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Waiting until discharge day. Call as soon as a hospital or rehab stay starts talking about discharge.
• Only asking for one program. Say what you need help doing, not just the program name you found online.
• Skipping the county question. A city name may not be enough when service areas overlap.
• Ignoring letters. Missed forms can stop benefits or delay waiver steps.
• Assuming a denial is final. Ask about appeals, a second screening, or a different program.

What to do if you are denied, delayed, or overwhelmed

Ask the office to explain the reason in plain language. Write down the rule, document, or deadline they mention. If the problem is missing proof, ask exactly what proof will work. If the issue is a waitlist, ask if there are short-term services while you wait.

If a benefit case is stuck, call the program that issued the notice. If a long-term care facility problem is involved, contact the ombudsman. If you cannot reach the first person you called, call the main AAA line again and ask for a supervisor or options counselor.

Backup options while you wait

• Ask 211 for food pantries, utility funds, shelters, or transportation in your ZIP code.
• Ask your doctor or hospital social worker for a home health or discharge planning referral.
• Call your Medicare Advantage or Medicaid plan, if you have one, and ask about care coordination.
• Ask your township trustee about emergency help if rent, utilities, or basic needs are the issue.
• Call local senior centers, libraries, and faith groups for meal days, rides, or wellness calls.
• Use GrantsForSeniors.org senior help tools to make a call list or check common benefit paths while you wait.

Resumen en español

Las Agencias del Área sobre el Envejecimiento en Indiana ayudan a adultos mayores, personas con discapacidades y cuidadores. Pueden ayudar con comidas, transporte, apoyo para cuidadores, preguntas de Medicare, ayuda en el hogar y opciones de cuidado a largo plazo.

Para empezar, llame al 800-713-9023 y diga su código postal. Si necesita comida, refugio, ayuda con servicios públicos o seguridad esta semana, marque 2-1-1 o llame al 866-211-9966. Si sospecha abuso, negligencia o explotación financiera de una persona mayor, llame a Adult Protective Services al 800-992-6978.

Tenga a mano su condado, seguro médico, ingresos, cartas oficiales y una lista clara de lo que necesita. Pregunte qué ayuda está abierta ahora, qué tiene lista de espera y cuál es el próximo paso. No comparta su número de Seguro Social ni datos bancarios hasta confirmar que está hablando con una oficina oficial o una agencia local confiable.

FAQ

How many Area Agencies on Aging are in Indiana?

Indiana has 15 Area Agencies on Aging and Aging and Disability Resource Centers serving 16 planning and service areas. Some agencies cover more than one service area.

What is the main Indiana AAA phone number?

Call 800-713-9023 and give your ZIP code. You can also call the local office in your county from the table above.

Do I have to be low income to call an AAA?

No. You can ask for information, referrals, options counseling, caregiver support, and Medicare help even if you do not meet Medicaid or SNAP income rules. Some specific services do have income, need, age, or funding limits.

Can an Indiana AAA help with Medicaid home care?

Yes. Your AAA can help with screening for the PathWays home and community-based services waiver. The waiver has a waiting list, so start early and keep your contact information current.

Are AAA services free?

Many information, referral, SHIP, and options counseling services are free. Some meal, ride, or respite programs may ask for a voluntary donation or use a sliding fee. A person should ask before service starts.

Who should I call about a nursing home problem?

Call the Indiana Long-Term Care Ombudsman at 800-622-4484 for resident rights, care problems, discharge issues, or concerns in nursing homes and licensed assisted living settings.

Editorial note: This guide is produced based on our Editorial Standards using official and other high-trust sources, regularly updated and monitored, but not affiliated with any government agency and not a substitute for official agency guidance. Individual eligibility outcomes cannot be guaranteed.

Last updated: May 6, 2026

Verification: Last verified May 6, 2026. Next review September 6, 2026.

Corrections: Please note that despite our careful verification process, errors may still occur. Email info@grantsforseniors.org with corrections and we will respond within 72 hours.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is not legal, financial, medical, tax, disability-rights, immigration, or government-agency advice. Program rules, policies, and availability can change. Readers should confirm current details directly with the official program before acting.