Senior Advocacy Services promotes the health, dignity, rights and quality of life of seniors and the disabled in Shelby County. We offer services that make a difference in people’s lives, helping seniors and their loved ones find and select resources that enable living with the most independence that is safe and appropriate.
Shelby Senior Services advocates for personal issues such as:
- Supports family and other caregivers
- Scam awareness and prevention
- Senior hunger and nutrition insufficiency
- Benefit/resource assistance
- Legal services
- Addresses Basic needs
- Alzheimer’s awareness/education
- Promotion and optimization of physical and mental health and well being
- Mobilizes resources to facilitate living at home
- Provides accessible transportation
Shelby Senior Services advocates for all persons in the community who are aging:
- Livable communities – safety in our homes and our neighborhoods
- Advocating for access to social services
- Active participation in all phases of the life of our community – social and civic
- Aging gracefully – finding your purpose – provides avenues for meaningful exploration of volunteer opportunities throughout the county
- Promotes aging issues as a county-wide priority
Contact Us About Advocacy
The Family Caregiver Support Program provides supportive services to caregivers, ages 60 and older - and to help relieve some of the ongoing stresses associated with caregiving.
Contact Us About Family Care Programs
How It Works
- An initial assessment of the caregiver’s needs can be completed in the home. The assessment provides an opportunity to identify available resources. The social worker will assist with making the appropriate referrals.
- The Caregiver Support Plan will be developed with the input from family and friends to aid in planning ahead for temporary help in a crisis or long-term help in the event that the primary caregiver is not able to continue.
How We Help
- Navigating the medical and legal system
- Insurance questions
- Homemaker services
- Friendly visitor
- Planning assistance for temporary placement in an assisted living or skilled care nursing facility if the need ever arises.
- Support through a listening ear or a shoulder to lean on.
- In-home companion care based on need and income qualifications.
Ongoing Support
Support Groups and Classes are available to assist with a variety of needs. These may include practical skills for caregivers, Helping Hands classes for spouses to learn tasks once performed by the care recipient, and informational groups dealing with certain diseases/illnesses. Members may share their frustrations, learn from each other, and support one another through groups including Alzheimer’s Association, Caregivers of Shelby County and Parkinson’s.
Funding
CICOA Aging and In-Home Solutions has awarded a grant to Shelby Seniors
Services, Inc., supplemented by Shelby County United Fund for You, allowing the agency to provide supportive services to caregivers, age 60 and older, to relieve some of the ongoing stress associated with caregiving.
Donations are gratefully accepted to supplement the Older Americans Act, Title III-E funding, which allows continuation of these services.
Volunteers Needed
Do you have an hour a day, week or month that you would like to spend making a difference in the lives of older adults? Come and spend an hour with us as we describe the variety of volunteer opportunities available!
Call (317) 398-0127 or email lrenton@shelbyseniorservices.org
Personal Hygiene Supplies Available
We have been happy to share donations of unopened incontinence supplies with those in need. However, we are only able to give out what is donated to our agency. Contact Brooke Holycross, Family Caregiver Program Coordinator at 317.398.0127. Your identity will remain confidential.
Consultations Available
Confused, frustrated, yet determined to give the very best care to a loved one is a blended lifestyle shared by many, and, shame is to be no part of it. Caregiving to either an elderly family member or a loved one who is challenged by disabilities brings a host of new responsibilities that may be unfamiliar or even intimidating. It is not a weakness for the caregiver to become overwhelmed or feel alone, but it is a sign to seek a support system and resources to make the caregiving process more manageable. That support and collection of resources are here in your own county, too, right inside the doors of Shelby Senior Services.
Whether you’re sipping tea, playing volleyball, earning stamps or walking through nature, each step is a meaningful part of your wellness path. We are proud to walk that path with you.
One of the biggest new additions is our Health & Wellness Passport Program. Each time you attend a wellness class, you will earn a stamp in your passport. Collect stamps to win prizes at 2, 4 and 6 stamps. It’s a great way to stay motivated, try new things and celebrate your progress.
The State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) provides free, impartial information to help consumers make decisions regarding their health care choices. Our volunteers strive to help you be wise consumers and to get the most value for your health insurance dollars. The program is funded by the Indiana Department of Insurance for Medicare.
Contact Us for a SHIP Counselor
Kathy McFarland
Shelby Senior Services
317.398.0127
About the Program
SHIP helps answer questions about Medicare, Medicare Supplement Insurance, Medicare Advantage (managed care programs), Medicare Part D, long-term care financing options, prescription coverage and low-income assistance.
Our SHIP counselors:- Provide educational materials and brochures.
- Educate beneficiaries so that they can understand Medicare, organize their records, file claims, and appeal Medicare decisions.
- Teach consumers to assess their needs so they can make informed decisions about their health insurance policies.
- Inform seniors of their rights as a Medicare beneficiary or health insurance policyholder.
- Show consumers how to evaluate the various Medicare Part D, supplement and long-term care insurance policies currently available.
- Refer clients to appropriate agencies where they can get help with other needs.
- Assist clients with finding help to pay for their prescriptions, including Hoosier Rx, manufacturers’ patient assistance programs, and retail discounts.
- Make presentations to groups. SHIP is staffed by a crew of 303 volunteer counselors who have completed an intensive 30-hour training course and are certified by the Indiana State Department of Insurance.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, our volunteer counselors donated more than 70 hours in two months to assist 94 Shelby County residents with questions regarding insurance needs.
Staff Training
Regular training updates keep staff current with the most recent changes in Medicare and other health care insurance options. There are 80 sponsoring agencies throughout the state that house SHIIP programs. SHIIP also provides training to other agencies that serve people with Medicare.
Additional Resources
SHIP Helpline
800.452.4800
Medicare Information
www.medicare.in.gov
A paralegal of the Senior Law Project of Indiana Legal Services, Inc. is at Shelby Senior Services on the third Thursday of every month to assist residents ages 60 and older with legal concerns.
Contact Us for an Appointment
About Indiana Legal Services: Senior Law Project
151 North Delaware, Suite 1800
Indianapolis, IN 46204
- Services: Legal representation, consultation, advice.
- Legal Areas: Estate planning, public benefits, housing, consumer matters and family law.
- Eligibility: Persons 60 and over.
Our social services coordinator is available to assist you with various situations related to senior life. Many times, we simply listen. We try to provide options for each situation and assist you in finding a resolution.
Contact Us for a Social Worker
8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Monday through Friday
Typical Situations We Assist
- An adult child of aging parents with questions.
- Benefits to help with living expenses.
- Needing insurance.
- Knowing the right questions about your Medicare/Medicaid plan.
- Experiencing an emergency.
- Feeling alone and need someone to talk to.
- Unsure of your local programs or resources.
- Managing your home and needing help finding assistance.
We provide volunteer, trained tax preparers to assist people of low- to middle-income in filing simple tax forms. Special attention is given to residents ages 60 and older. This program is supported by the AARP Tax-Aide program.
Contact Us for an Appointment
Appointments begin in January of the tax filing season on:
Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 3:45 p.m.
Thursdays from 9 a.m. until 1:45 p.m.
Location
Shelby Senior Services
120 Intelliplex Drive, Suite 101
Shelbyville, Indiana.
Traveling expands your horizons (no pun intended), fulfills dreams, and gives you new perspectives on life. Join us!
People from all over the country join their friends and/or family for our trips. It is a perfect way to celebrate a class or family reunion, anniversary, birthday or any other special occasion.
Let's Share a Meal
We provide nutritious, balanced meals to support your health, independence and well-being. Whether delivered to your home or enjoyed in our Horizon Centers, our meals offer more than nourishment — they bring comfort, connection and care.