Senior benefits in LaGrange County, Indiana

Indiana Energy Assistance Program (EAP) for LaGrange County residents is delivered through Brightpoint (the regional Community Action agency), the Community Action agency for northeast Indiana. EAP provides a one-time winter-heating / summer-cooling credit (up to $675) plus winter disconnection protection for households at or below 60% of the State Median Income (~$33,556/year for one person). Apply through the Indiana EAP client portal (in.gov/ihcda) or Brightpoint (260-423-3546).

$200–$675/yr

LaGrange County emergency aid: (1) DISTINCTIVE to Indiana — each elected Township Trustee provides 'poor relief' (township assistance): emergency help with rent / eviction prevention, utility shutoff, food, clothing, medical needs, and burial expenses for residents of that township; find your trustee through the county offices. (2) Aging & In-Home Services of Northeast Indiana for senior case management, meals, and PathWays/CHOICE (260-745-1200). (3) Brightpoint for EAP utility help. (4) The county hospital Financial Assistance Programs for healthcare. (5) Salvation Army / St. Vincent de Paul / Catholic Charities of Fort Wayne-South Bend. (6) Community Harvest Food Bank of NE Indiana. (7) Dial 211 for general referrals.

$200–$3,000/yr

LaGrange County hospital safety net: LaGrange = Parkview LaGrange Hospital (Parkview Health critical access) — county anchor in Amish country. Indiana hospitals do not have a single state-mandated charity-care law (unlike New Jersey); each runs its own Financial Assistance Program (Parkview, for example, covers up to 200% of the Federal Poverty Level), and non-profit hospitals must offer one. Apply at the hospital financial counseling office or at https://www.parkview.com/patients-and-visitors/billing-and-insurance/financial-assistance. Phone: 260-463-9000.

$500–$30,000/yr

In this county: LaGrange: LaGrange = Parkview LaGrange Hospital (Parkview Health critical access) — county anchor in Amish country. Each hospital runs its own Financial Assistance Program (no Indiana state-mandated charity-care law).

LaGrange County's Area Agency on Aging is Aging & In-Home Services of Northeast Indiana — Area 3 Agency on Aging. Services: Aging & Disability Resource Center (ADRC) options counseling; enrollment/assessment for the Medicaid PathWays for Aging waiver and the state CHOICE program; home-delivered and congregate meals; caregiver support (NFCSP); transportation; and home modifications. One of Indiana's 16 AAAs. Apply by calling 260-745-1200 or 800-552-3662.

$1,500–$6,000/yr

LCAT (LaGrange County Area Transit), run by the LaGrange County Council on Aging, provides demand-response rides for any LaGrange County resident or visitor. Seniors age 60 and over ride within the county for a suggested donation; general-public in-county fares are $4.00 (0-4 miles) up to $15.00 (21-30 miles), and out-of-county trips are $1.25 per mile for all ages. Call 260-463-4161 (Mon-Fri 8 a.m.-4 p.m.), 48 hours ahead when possible.

$500–$2,500/yr

In this county: LaGrange: open to everyone; riders 60+ pay only a suggested donation in-county. Call 260-463-4161 two days ahead when possible.