Two organizations with programs that assist the area's aging and disabled populations will merge to work more efficiently and enhance services offered.
Aging & In-Home Services of Northeast Indiana and Allen County Council on Aging announced the two will be combining their efforts.
Connie Benton Wolfe, president and CEO of AIHS said the missions of both organizations drove the merger as both thought about what they could do to secure positions and offer the most-need services.
“We're very excited,” she said. “Any time you pool energy and resources, services get stronger.”
Representatives from both organizations along with Mayor Tom Henry and Allen County Commissioner Nelson Peters were present for the announcement, touting the merger as a move the puts clients first.
Henry said both organizations serve a “magnificent need” in the community, calling the merger, “the logical thing to do.”
Jenni Showalter, executive director of ACCOA, said the merger will cut down on the two organizations duplicating positions, such as administration, and work together to fill some gaps in services.
“We're getting ahead of the 'silver tsunami,'” she said of the baby boomers that will need services in the coming years.
The merger was made possible with financial support from both the Foellinger Foundation and the Community Foundation of Greater Fort Wayne.
ACCOA provides homemaker and handy chore services, transportation, daily reassurance phone calls and durable medical-equipment loan program in Allen County.
AIHS is the Area III Agency on Aging serves older adults and people with disabilities in nine counties of northeast Indiana with programs like the Aging & Disability Resource Center, programs for productive aging, family caregiver center, home and community services and geriatric and disability case management.
