Welcome to Generations

Our Focus Is Simple: YOUR HEALTH & HAPPINESS

We provide information and services to older adults, individuals with disabilities of any age and their caregivers in Daviess, Dubois, Greene, Knox, Martin and Pike counties.

From nutrition to arranging the right in-home services, our job is to connect individuals with the right programs and services to help improve their quality of life. Generations is a program of Vincennes University’s Community Service Division.

OUR MISSION

To offer older adults, individuals with disabilities and caregivers options for a better quality of life.

Generations Beacon Article - June

June 15th is World Elder Abuse Awareness Day

Elder Abuse Facts courtesy of the National Council on Aging

 

What is elder abuse?

Elder abuse includes physical abuse, emotional abuse, sexual abuse, exploitation, neglect, and abandonment. Perpetrators include children, other family members, and spouses—as well as staff at nursing homes, assisted living, and other facilities.

 

  • Physical abuse means inflicting physical pain or injury upon an older adult.
  • Sexual abuse means touching, fondling, intercourse, or any other sexual activity with an older adult, when the older adult is unable to understand, unwilling to consent, threatened, or physically forced.
  • Emotional abuse means verbal assaults, threats of abuse, harassment, or intimidation.
  • Confinement means restraining or isolating an older adult, other than for medical reasons.
  • Passive neglect is a caregiver’s failure to provide an older adult with life’s necessities, including, but not limited to, food, clothing, shelter, or medical care.
  • Willful deprivation means denying an older adult medication, medical care, shelter, food, a therapeutic device, or other physical assistance, and exposing that person to the risk of physical, mental, or emotional harm—except when the older, competent adult has expressed a desire to go without such care.
  • Financial exploitation means the misuse or withholding of an older adult’s resources by another.

 

How many older Americans are abused?

Approximately 1 in 10 Americans aged 60+ have experienced some form of elder abuse. Some estimates range as high as 5 million elders who are abused each year. One study estimated that only 1 in 14 cases of abuse are reported to authorities.

 

Who are the abusers of older adults?

Abusers are both women and men. In almost 60% of elder abuse and neglect incidents, the perpetrator is a family member. Two thirds of perpetrators are adult children or spouses.

 

What makes an older adult vulnerable to abuse?

Social isolation and mental impairment (such as dementia or Alzheimer’s disease ) are two factors. Recent studies show that nearly half of those with dementia experienced abuse or neglect. Interpersonal violence also occurs at disproportionately higher rates among adults with disabilities.

 

What are the warning signs of elder abuse?

  • Physical abuse, neglect, or mistreatment: Bruises, pressure marks, broken bones, abrasions, burns
  • Emotional abuse: Unexplained withdrawal from normal activities, a sudden change in alertness, or unusual depression; strained or tense relationships; frequent arguments between the caregiver and older adult
  • Financial abuse: Sudden changes in financial situations
  • Neglect: Bedsores, unattended medical needs, poor hygiene, unusual weight loss
  • Verbal or emotional abuse: Belittling, threats, or other uses of power and control by individuals

 

How does a person make an elder abuse report? 

If an older adult is in immediate, life-threatening danger, call 911. Anyone who suspects that an older adult is being mistreated should contact a local Adult Protective Services office, Long-Term Care Ombudsman, or police. NCEA describes various scenarios and ways to Get Help, and more information is available from the Eldercare Locator online or by calling 1-800-677-1116.

 

 

 

 

Your contribution can help your friends and neighbors continue to live independently in their own homes.

Sign Up For Our Free Magazine

Magazine Promotes Successful Aging

 

Generations Magazine is a free publication especially for active and informed adults that made its debut in the fall of 1998. Promoting successful aging for individuals in pre-retirement and retirement years, the magazine provides helpful information on a wide array of topics including health and fitness, caregiving and legal issues, investment and financial advice, and light reading to educational opportunities available through many outreach efforts and programs. Featured guest writers bring additional expertise and credability to the magazine’s professionalism and dedication to quality.

Generations Magazine is published 3 times a year and is sent to more than 5,000 subscribers. With advertiser support, we are able to provide the magazine free of charge to our readers.  To be added to our mailing list, email your name and address to Linda Yochum at lyochum@vinu.edu or call 1-800-742-9002.

Or, If you would like to download the digital version of the magazine, click on the button below.

  

Please send all communications regarding the magazine to:

Generations, c/o Brenda Hancock
P.O. Box 314
Vincennes IN 47591

For advertising information contact Brenda Hancock at (812) 888-5146 or bhancock@vinu.edu

Privacy Policy: Your personal information is for Generations' use only. We will not sell any of your data to a third party.

 

Upcoming Matter of Balance Classes

UPCOMING MATTER OF BALANCE CLASSES

If you are interested in attending a Matter of Balance class in the future and you live in, or near our six-county service area, please contact Alma Kramer at (812)888-4527.  If enough interest is generated in an area, we will do our best to set up a class in that area.

 

 

The Alzheimer’s Association provides caregivers and families with comprehensive online resources and information Their professionally staffed 24/7 Helpline (1.800.272.3900) offers information and advice to more than 250,000 callers each year. 
Visit their website at:  www.alz.org

The Support Group for Caregivers of Loved Ones with Alzheimer’s Disease and Other Dementia meets the second Tuesday of each month at 4 p.m. at Central Church of Christ (Fellowship Hall), 1600 Forbes Road, Vincennes.  The meetings provide the latest information on Alzheimer's research and medications, help and encouragement from other caregivers and open but confidential discussions and a chance to be heard.  For more information, contact Roger Wright, Support Group Facilitator, at (812) 882-7963 or centralccc@gmail.com.

 

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Generations’ column for June 15, 2019

 

WORLD ELDER ABUSE AWARENESS DAY IS JUNE 15TH:  According to the Administration for Community Living, each year, an estimated 5 million older adults are abused, neglected, or exploited. Older Americans lose an estimated $2.6 billion or more annually due to elder financial abuse and exploitation, funds that could be used to pay for basic needs such as housing, food, and medical care. Unfortunately, it occurs in every demographic and can happen to anyone—a family member, a neighbor, even you. It is estimated that only one in five of these crimes are discovered.  All month, we will be providing tips on how YOU can avoid fraud:

  • Tip #5:  Take in to consideration how you pay for things.  Credit cards usually have built in protection, however, there are many payment methods that do not.  Wiring money through services such as MoneyGram or Western Union is very risky, as it is nearly impossible to get your money back if you have been scammed.  Reloadable cards such as MoneyPak, Reloadit and Vanilla are also risky payment methods for the same reason.  Honest companies and government offices will never require you to use these payment methods.
  • Tip #6:  Talk to someone that you can trust!  Scammers and con artists want you to make a decision in a hurry.  Do not be intimidated – even if they threaten you.  Take a breath, check out their story, consult with an expert, check online or just simply tell a friend.

 

NO DINE WITH A DOC IN JULY:  There will be no Dine with a Doc in the month of July.  The program will resume on August 7th, 2019 at Green Activities Center on the Vincennes University Campus.  Details to come.

 

2019 TRAILBLAZER 5K:  Generations’ annual Trailblazer 5K is on the horizon!  This year’s event will take place on August 10th, 2019 with a race route that includes the beautifully restored Kimmel Park along the banks of the Wabash.  For more information on this event and to register, visit our website at www.generationsnetwork.org and click on the Trailblazer 5k tab.

 

GENERATIONS’ TRAILBLAZER 5K SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITY:  Do you own a local business?  We would love to have you as a sponsor for our 5K to be held on August 10th, 2019 on the beautiful campus of Vincennes University.  This is a fabulous way for you to get your business’ name “out there” while supporting your local Area Agency on Aging and Disability.  Different sponsorship levels are available.  For more information on how to become a sponsor, please contact Alma Kramer at 812-888-4527 or at akramer@vinu.edu.  You may also visit our website at www.generationsnetwork.org and click on the Trailblazer 5k tab.

GENERATIONS MAGAZINE: Our magazine is geared toward adults in pre-retirement and retirement years and promotes active aging and preventive health. It is published three times a year and is free to subscribers. All we need is your name and address. If you would like to receive future copies of the magazine, contact Brenda Hancock at 812-888-5146 or bhancock@vinu.edu.

Generations, Area 13 Agency on Aging & Disability, is a program of Vincennes University’s Community Services Division. Our agency connects individuals and caregivers to community resources and options for long-term care and in-home services. For more information, call 1-800-742-9002 or 812-888-5880 or visit our website at www.generationsnetwork.org

Every Penny Counts

Every Penny Counts.

For as little as $25 a month, you can provide a family in need with the peace of mind that comes from owning their own Personal Emergency Response System. For $50, you can give a caregiver what he or she needs most: an afternoon out of the house with the help of our respite care program. And for less than that, you can provide our clients with Meals on Wheels gift certificates, transportation tokens, and even one-of-a-kind Teddy Bears. The point is, your contribution can help our friends and neighbors continue to live independently.

To help us meet our mission and financial challenges, we’ve established the "Looking to the Future" endowment through the Vincennes University Foundation. In addition, donations may also be made to Generations endowment through the Dubois County Community Foundation, Huntingburg Community Foundation and Greene County Community Foundation.

If you're interested in learning more about donating to Generations, you may click the donation button on home page of our website, or give us a call at 1-800-742-9002. You may also donate by mail.  Your tax-deductible gift to Generations may be mailed to:

GENERATIONS
1019 N. 4th Street P.O. Box 314 Vincennes, IN 47591

Generations is thankful for the financial support provided by United Way, Community Foundations and charitable businesses, organizations and individuals in our communities.