Our History

Our History

History of Generations, Area 13 Agency on Aging

Generations dates back to 1975 when Vincennes University was asked by the state of Indiana to be the home of the Area 13 Agency on Aging.  This was in response to the 1973 Older Americans Act Amendment, which mandated that each state create area agencies for the purpose of identifying the needs of the older adults, determining the extent of available services and identifying gaps in services.

Over the years, Area 13 Agency on Aging has changed its name twice.  In 1987, it became known as the Older Hoosiers Program to make it more identifiable to our target audience.  Ten years later, the name Generations was adopted in an effort to get the message out that the agency serves as a resource for all age groups.

Generations believes one of the strengths of our organization is our history.  Here are just a few of the highlights:

1975 – Title IIIC programs (home-delivered and congregate nutrition services) were integrated with other Title III programs under the Older Americans Act to form Area 13 Agency on Aging. 

1978 – Selected by the state to pilot the Case Management program.

1982 – Began offering Ombudsman service to residents of long-term care facilities.

1983 – Added Volunteer Services when awarded sponsorship for the Knox County Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP).

1983 – Selected by the state to pilot the Pre-Admission Screening program to determine appropriateness of nursing home placement.

1988 – Selected by the state to pilot the CHOICE (Community and Home Options to Institutional Care for the Elderly and Disabled) program.

1988 – Published first issue of Generations magazine.

2000 – Began producing food for all six counties using the Ferdinand Production Center.

2001 – Started AngelWorx volunteer program.

2003 – Became the third Area Agency on Aging in the nation to be accredited by Council on Accreditation Commission.

2005 – Launched Link-Age Aging Resource Connection offering a new concept in accessing social services and delivering aging and disability information.

2007 – Introduced EngAGE, an agency initiative to promote the creation of livable communities for all ages and abilities.

2008 – Accredited by the Alliance of Information and Referral Systems qualifying our agency to be a 2-1-1 Call Center.

2010 – Held first Disability Awareness Workshop for fifth graders.

2012 – Created Generations’ Facebook page.

2012 – Sponsored first Trailblazer 5K on the VU campus.

2013 – ADRC enhanced Options Counseling by providing face-to-face home visits for clients seeking information on long-term services and supports.

2013 – Generations magazine switched to a full-color publication.

2013 – Generations offered its first ZUMBAgold® class.

2013 – Generations began the Care Transitions program to help reduce the number of older adults being readmitted to the hospital.

2013 - A comprehensive Community Needs Assessment was conducted and the results were shared during an open forum in June.

2013 - Generations discontinued 2-1-1 service to Dubois, Knox, Greene and Pike counties at the end of June.

2013 - Generations was the first Area Agency in the state to obtain the Veterans’ Directed Home and Community-Based Services Waiver and we received our first referral in September 2013.

2013 - Generations launched its new website in October.

2014 – Generations was selected to serve as a pilot agency for the implementation of the Community Living Program under the CHOICE program.  Prior to the 2015 implementation of CLP, our agency developed person-centered systems for addressing the needs of seniors and adults living with disabilities. 

2015 – In January, Generations implemented the Community Living Program to provide person-centered service to help people at risk of institutionalization continue to live at home for as long as they choose.