Beginning in 1974, SWIRCA & More has aided numerous individuals with maintaining their independent living. SWIRCA & More is one of 700 nationwide Area Agencies on Aging (AAA). While not a governmental agency, SWIRCA & More oversees state and local funds, along with funds donated from members in the community. SWIRCA & More is known as Area 16 in Indiana and serves Vanderburgh, Warrick, Spencer, Gibson, Posey and Perry Counties. Area Agencies, such as SWIRCA & More, have been designated by the State of Indiana as centers in charge of planning and coordinating a system of services for older adults.
SWIRCA & More provides a number of services for older adults in the six counties it serves. One of its most important services is Meals on Wheels. SWIRCA & More provides over 700 meals per day that SWIRCA & More prepares. Recipients only need to heat up the food in a microwave or oven once they have received it. Other services they provide include daily activities, including a book club, trips and annual social events. Membership is open to anybody who is 50 years or older and costs $30 per year.
SWIRCA & More has been heavily involved with USI’s Bronstein Center for Healthy Aging and Wellness and the GWEP. Both organizations regularly partner with each other and work together to serve the community. One of the most important partnerships between the GWEP and SWIRCA & More is the integration of one of SWIRCA & More’s case managers into three Deaconess clinic locations. By having a case manager present in a clinical setting, the case manager may educate doctors and nurses about SWIRCA & More’s services, be more accessible to patients, and provide advanced care planning (ACP) services. One major event that SWIRCA & More works on with the GWEP is the annual Mid-America Institute on Aging and Wellness (MAIA). Occurring every August, MAIA is a multi-disciplinary gerontology conference that hosts panels on a variety of topics. Another major aspect in which SWIRCA & More partners with USI’s GWEP is in SWIRCA & More’s involvement with Dementia-Friendly communities. This partnership provides workshops to educate participants about dementia, what it is like living with dementia and how to communicate with those with dementia.
