Area Agencies on Aging in Indiana (2026 Guide)

What Has Changed

This update corrects an important long-term-care step. Indiana says Area Agencies on Aging no longer conduct Nursing Facility Level of Care assessments. Since July 1, 2025, the state’s Level of Care Assessment Representative, or LCAR, manages the statewide assessment and determination process for covered waiver services. For people seeking new home- and community-based waiver services, LCAR/Maximus conducts the assessment. Existing PathWays members may have an assessment completed through their managed care entity, with LCAR providing the determination recommendation. An AAA can still help with referrals, service planning, and local resources.

The article also adds Indiana’s newest published PathWays waiver waiting-list figure. As of August 2026, the state reported 11,779 people on the PathWays Medicaid Waiver waiting list. Indiana specifically says this is a waiting list for waiver services, not for the overall PathWays for Aging program.

What Indiana Area Agencies on Aging Do

An Area Agency on Aging, usually called an AAA, is a local entry point for aging and disability services. Indiana’s network is also part of the INconnect Alliance. The state says 15 AAAs serve 16 planning and service areas. You can find your office through the INconnect Alliance locator.

AAAs do not provide every service themselves. Their job often includes information, referrals, options counseling, case management, and connections to local providers. A good AAA call can save time because staff know which programs serve your county and which ones are accepting new people.

Indiana’s Older Americans Act programs generally serve people over age 60. The state says these programs have no income or asset limits, although funding is limited and not every service is always available. Participants may be asked for voluntary contributions. Some other programs reached through an AAA, especially Medicaid programs, have separate financial and functional rules.

If you need a wider view of help beyond aging services, the GFS Indiana benefits guide covers food, housing, health care, tax relief, utilities, and other assistance. For a national explanation of the aging network, see the GFS national AAA guide.

Indiana AAA Directory by Service Area

Indiana assigns counties to 16 planning and service areas. One agency, LifeStream Services, serves both Area 6 and Area 9, which is why there are 15 agencies but 16 areas. The contacts below were checked against the state AAA directory on 12 September 2026.

If you are unsure which office serves you, call 800-713-9023 instead of guessing from a nearby city.

Services an Indiana AAA May Help With

Meals, transportation, and daily support

Older Americans Act services listed by Indiana include home-delivered meals, congregate meals, transportation, homemaker help, attendant care, adult day services, legal assistance, emergency response systems, and some equipment or home modifications. The exact mix depends on local funding and contracts.

Ask the AAA what is available in your county, whether there is a waitlist, whether donations or fees apply, and whether transportation is limited to certain destinations or days. If you have an urgent food or utility problem while waiting, the GFS emergency aid guide can help you identify other Indiana routes.

Family caregiver support

Indiana’s Family Caregiver Program can provide counseling, training, support groups, respite, access assistance, and limited supplemental services. The state says the program has no income or asset limits. Eligibility depends on the caregiving relationship and age or disability situation, so describe who you care for and your relationship to that person.

If you are trying to understand whether a family member can be paid for care, the GFS paid caregiver guide explains the main Indiana pathways and their limits.

Medicare counseling

Indiana SHIP provides free, impartial Medicare counseling. Call 800-452-4800 or use Indiana SHIP for help with Medicare Advantage, Medigap, Part D, claims, appeals, and programs that may help with Medicare costs. SHIP counseling can be by phone, in person, or virtual. You can also check local SHIP sites by county.

If Medicare premiums or cost sharing are the main problem, the GFS Medicare Savings guide explains QMB, SLMB, QI, and QDWI before you speak with SHIP or Indiana Medicaid.

Housing and long-term care choices

AAAs can help families compare staying at home, home-care services, assisted living, nursing facilities, caregiver support, and local housing resources. They can also refer you to other agencies when the issue is rent, a home repair, or a housing waitlist. The GFS housing help guide covers broader Indiana housing options.

PathWays Home Care: AAA and LCAR Roles

Indiana PathWays for Aging is a Medicaid program for many Hoosiers age 60 and older who receive Medicaid, including people who may need long-term services and supports. The PathWays program is different from the PathWays Medicaid Waiver. The waiver is the home- and community-based services route that has a waiting list.

The most important update is the assessment step. Indiana says AAAs no longer perform Nursing Facility Level of Care assessments. For Medicaid-eligible people seeking new covered home- and community-based waiver services, the Level of Care Assessment Representative uses Maximus to conduct the assessment. You can start through the Indiana LCAR page, call Maximus LCAR at 833-597-2777, or ask your AAA to help make the referral. If you are already enrolled in PathWays, your managed care entity may conduct the assessment and LCAR provides the determination recommendation, so follow the instructions from your plan or service coordinator.

An AAA still matters after that change. Indiana says AAAs continue to provide case management, information, referrals, service planning support, Medicaid application help, and help with waiver waiting-list questions. For broader planning about care at home, use the GFS home care guide.

If you are already enrolled in PathWays and have trouble resolving a plan or enrollment issue, Indiana lists member support contacts, including PathWays Member Support Services at 877-738-3511.

How to Find Senior Centers in Indiana

Senior centers are local, not one statewide system. Some are run by an AAA, city, county, nonprofit, parks department, or community organization. Indiana’s Older Americans Act page specifically includes senior center programs as part of the aging network.

Ask your AAA for senior centers, congregate meal sites, activity programs, exercise classes, transportation, and benefits counseling near your ZIP code. Before traveling, call the center and ask about age rules, meal reservations, fees or suggested donations, transportation boundaries, accessibility, and current hours.

How to Start Without Wasting Time

Before you call, write down the one problem that is making daily life hardest. This helps the AAA route you faster. If several problems are connected, say that too. For example: “I need rides to medical visits, but I also need meal help because I cannot drive.”

Have the following information nearby. Do not send original documents unless an agency specifically tells you to do so.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Waiting for a crisis. Call when a hospital starts discharge planning or when daily tasks first become unsafe.
• Asking for one program only. Explain the real need so staff can suggest alternatives.
• Assuming the AAA does the PathWays assessment. LCAR now handles Nursing Facility Level of Care assessments.
• Ignoring official mail. Waiver, Medicaid, Medicare, and benefit notices may contain deadlines or required steps.
• Sharing sensitive details too early. Confirm that you are speaking with the correct official or local agency before giving Social Security, banking, or insurance information.

Backup Options

• Call Indiana 211 again and explain that the first referral did not work.
• Ask a hospital or clinic social worker about discharge, home health, transportation, and local support.
• Ask your Medicare Advantage or Medicaid plan about care coordination if you are enrolled in one.
• Ask the AAA whether another meal, ride, caregiver, or home-support program can help temporarily.
• If housing is part of the problem, use your local housing authority, township trustee, and community agencies as separate routes.

Phone Scripts You Can Use