Exploring Local Resources
The caregiving concept I promote above all others is this: you do not have to do it alone. Reaching out for - or accepting - help from your village can be one of the hardest parts of caregiving, especially for primary caregivers. We feel it is our job to provide all the care our loved ones are needing. Or we try to do it all ourselves because we don’t yet realize how many resources we do have available to provide assistance for our loved ones and ourselves.
You’re a caregiver. You may be pursuing caregiving as a career that you chose or you may be a caregiver by the unexpected circumstances life throws our way. Either way - you do not have to do it alone!
As a dementia care guide working closely with families in and near Hancock County, Indiana, my role is to help caregivers find the right supports at the right time.
You may not be open to meeting anyone new or seeking out any kind of new assistance yet. That is perfectly fine! I just want you to have this information available so you have it when/if you are ready for it.
As I reside and primarily work in Hancock County, Indiana, I will be providing specific resources for this area. However, I will put an asterisk (*) next to resources that are available in other counties in Indiana and a double asterisk (**) next to resources available throughout the United States.
As your guide through the process of dementia care, I want to provide you with the following advice regarding finding the RIGHT help for you and loved one during this process of dementia caregiving.
If your insurance offers a care coordinator**, a navigator that understands the ins and outs of your insurance and can more easily identify practitioners and facilities covered by your insurance, utilize these people! They can save you hours of headache and hassle trying to figure out who and what is covered by your insurance.
Find resources that provide the care you are looking for! What I mean by this is explore your options**. Would you stay with the same hair stylist or barber if they did a bad job or provided off-putting services? No. The same goes for medical, counseling, and other support services. Building the RIGHT team around you can make all the difference during a dementia caregiving journey.
When you can, visit facilities** (i.e., hospitals, skilled nursing homes, respite care centers, etc.) BEFORE an admission is required. Get a list of facilities covered by your insurance and go visit each to see which you prefer because you DO have a choice in the kind of care you/your loved one will be receiving. It can be best to do this before an admission is needed so that if/when that time comes, you have a better idea of the kind of care your loved one will be receiving when away from home.
Talk with others** in your community to see what their experiences are with local resources. I’m not saying that every person will have the same experiences across the board, however, knowing others’ experiences can help you make a well-informed decision about future care for your loved one.
Hospitals**
Below is the contact information for Hancock Regional Hospital as this is the primary hospital located centrally within Hancock County. Within Hancock Regional Hospital, they began offering an early-stage dementia treatment, LEQEMBI®, in 2025. See article “Hancock Health Offering New Alzheimer’s Treatment” for more details on this treatment: https://www.hancockhealth.org/2025/02/hancock-health-offering-new-alzheimers-treatment/.
*This information is shared for educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Please consult your healthcare provider to determine whether treatment is appropriate for you or your loved one.*
Hancock Regional Hospital
801 N. State Street, Greenfield, IN 46140
(317) 462-5544
Hancock Health Connection Center
This is a wonderful resource located in Greenfield but provides services throughout all of Hancock County! Like myself, the staff at the Connection Center work daily to connect people with resources and assistance they need.
Along with their contact information, I am attaching a link to their Community Resource Guide that is shared publicly on their webpage. From this resource guide, they provide names, brief descriptions, and contact information for resources all around Hancock County available to members of the public.
Community Resources: https://www.hancockhealth.org/wellness-education/health-possible/community-resources/
Hancock Health Connection Center
156 West Muskegon Drive, Greenfield, IN 46160
317-468-4231
Primary Care Physicians**
While I understand that the selection of a Primary Care Physician can be strongly dictated by your insurance, I strongly suggest finding a provider in your network that is familiar with dementia care as well as any additional medical conditions. For example, if your loved one is living with Parkinson’s disease and Lewy Body Dementia or Parkinson’s Disease Dementia, find a practitioner that is specifically familiar with these degenerative diseases. A doctor that specializes in geriatric care, dementia, or additional neurological diseases will be able to provide more patient-specific care as older individuals, especially those living with dementia, have a very unique set of needs for their care.
Check with your insurance provider on covered physicians. Again, see if your insurance offers a care coordinator that can help guide you in the direction of a physician trained in geriatric and/or dementia care.
Work with local resources available at Hancock Health, CICOA Aging and In-Home Solutions, and/or Hancock County Senior Services to guide you in the direction of local physicians that are right for you or loved one.
Counselors**
Speaking with a counselor regarding dementia care is a very personalized decision. You may not want to consider this option at all. You may be open to the idea but are not quite ready to add another person into your village just yet. Or you may be ready to speak with someone right now! No matter where you fall on that continuum, it is my pleasure to provide you with resources available to you so you have them if/when they are needed.
Again, that darn insurance. If you contact your insurance provider first, they can tell you who is covered under your current plan.
You can also contact the wonderful service coordinators at the Hancock Connection Center (317-468-4231) to help you find your ideal match with their counselors based on your individual needs.
I have also met with a few counseling services offered within Hancock County that provide very compassionate services.
Wellspring: This very nice facility provides individual and group counseling services for a variety of needs at no cost to the participants. You also do not have to be a member of the church or of the same faith to participate in their counseling services.
Located within Brandywine Church at 1551 East New Road, Greenfield, IN 46160.
Phone number (317) 462-2015
https://www.wellspringind.org/
Dr. Robyn Jarrell, DMN: Dr. Jarrell is a pastoral counselor specifically trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). She can provide counseling services to caregivers, especially those that have experienced trauma, with her services. While a pastoral counselor, Dr. Jarrell also offers counseling services that do not specifically include faith-based services for those that seek counseling but do not wish to have religion integrated into services.
CICOA Aging and In-Home Solutions*
This Indiana-based service is an AMAZING wealth of resources and services to seniors, those living with dementia, and their caregivers. Their services include:
Aging & Disability Resource Center: https://cicoa.org/resource-center/aging-disability-resource-center-overview/
Caregiver Support: https://cicoa.org/services/caregiver-support/
Meals & Nutrition: https://cicoa.org/services/senior-meals-nutrition/
Transportation: https://cicoa.org/services/transportation/
Care Management: https://cicoa.org/services/care-management/
Home Modifications: https://cicoa.org/services/home-accessibility-modifications/
Respite Care Services**
Respite care services can be provided in-home, at a day center, or a residential facility. Luckily, we have several facilities and organizations within Hancock County that can provide such services. These are services that provide temporary relief for caregivers to leave their loved ones in capable hands of care while they tend to their own needs for appointments, shopping, or additional mental/physical needs.
Below is a list of some of the respite services available within Hancock County, Indiana.
Crowning Glory Adult Day Center
https://crowninggloryadc.com/
745 N. State Street, Greenfield, IN 46160
(317) 318 - 9172
Hancock Senior Services
1870 Fields Blvd, Greenfield, IN 46160
(317) 462-3758
Springhurst Health Campus - Senior Day Care Services
628 North Meridian Road, Greenfield, IN 46160
Several home health organizations serving the Hancock County area also provide in-home respite care services. Consult with your insurance provider to see which organizations are covered under your current plan.
Remember - your village can grow over time. You don’t have to invite everyone in today, but knowing who is available can make all the difference when you’re ready.
I hope you have found these tips and resources valuable on your caregiving journey. If you have recommendations for fellow caregivers on resources that you have utilized, please feel free to tell us about it in the comments below!