Fort Wayne, IN ­ Aging & In-Home Services of Northeast Indiana (AIHS) announced today their 2013 ³Communities for a Lifetime – Awards of Excellence² recipients at the 38th annual meeting and awards ceremony at the Landmark Conference Centre. The award recognizes achievements by individuals and/or organizations that have contributed to building a livable community for older adults, and all ages. The recipients are:

Frank Gray, The Journal Gazette: In recognition of his over 30 years as a reporter and columnist with the Journal Gazette, providing insight into human issues that residents in our region are dealing with, helping individuals find answers, and holding those in authority accountable. He has been called the ³social conscience of Fort Wayne.²

Sue Johnson and the Rev. Richard Hartman, Epiphany Lutheran Church: In recognition of their response to the effects of the federal Budget Control Act, known as Sequestration, on our local Meals on Wheels program. Their sympathy and concern for those at-risk individuals on a waiting list to receive Meals on Wheels due to Sequestration became a call to action to the local faith community to eliminate the waiting list and develop long-term funding for the program.

Sheriff Ken Fries and Allen County Sheriff¹s Department: In recognition of the protective and responsive role the department plays in keeping older adults safe at home, and Sheriff Fries¹ leadership in supporting proactive programming for seniors, including SafeNet, scams and annual medication disposal with TRIAD partners.

Past recipients include Fort Wayne Mayor Tom Henry; Mike Packnett, Parkview Health System; Betty Erxleben; Indiana Lt. Gov. Becky Skillman; Zach Benedict & Dodd Kattman, MKM architecture + design; Lillian Embick, Audiences Unlimited; Foellinger Foundation; Community Foundation of Greater Fort Wayne; and Faith Laird, Indiana Division of Aging.

Also recognized were the newest partners in the Community Care Transitions Program, first developed with Parkview Health in 2010. The program is fully functional now in these hospitals in our nine-county service area: Bluffton Regional Medical Center (part of the Lutheran Health System) DeKalb Health (an independent hospital in Angola)
Parkview Health Systems Hospitals: Parkview Huntington, Parkview Noble, Parkview Randallia, Parkview Regional and Parkview Whitley

Aging & In-Home Services of Northeast Indiana Inc. is the primary resource for older adults, persons with disabilities, and their caregivers. Each year, AIHS touches the lives of over 40,000 individuals in its area including the counties of Allen, Adams, DeKalb, Huntington, LaGrange, Noble, Steuben, Wells and Whitley.