81-Year-Old Mary Stays Active

Written by

For 81-year-old Mary, staying active is not difficult. She is soft-spoken and sweet, and greets people with a warm hug. Every day she calls members of her St. John Missionary Baptist Church congregation to see how they are doing and to chat for a few minutes.

Mary first connected with CICOA after undergoing open-heart surgery and spending time in hospital rehabilitation. Before she returned home, a member of CICOA’s Health Care Collaboration care management team met with her to evaluate her living space and physical condition and to make sure she had the necessary supports to safely return home.

Mary said she was a little concerned about coming home from the hospital because she knew she couldn’t physically manage alone.

“I needed assistance with cooking and cleaning and getting around,” she said. “That’s when CICOA was able to help me.”

Mary has been a client of CICOA’s for more than 10 years. She receives attendant care services five hours every week and wears a medical monitoring device in case of emergencies. An aide comes in twice a week to help her around the house, run errands or take her where she needs to go.

“CICOA is just wholeheartedly concerned about the individual they’re working with,” she said. “Without CICOA, I would feel lost.”


More News & Stories

Young man and older woman smile while hugging on a sofa in a cozy living room with a brick wall backdrop

What the Age Wave Means for Indiana Families

As more Hoosiers grow older, the choices we make today will shape daily life for every generation. It often starts with a ride to a doctor’s appointment or help picking up groceries. Over time, an adult child may find themselves...
Elderly woman laughing while using chopsticks to eat at a dining table with assorted dishes; another person is blurred in the foreground.

CICOA Receives $30,000 Grant from Central Indiana Senior Fund, a CICF Fund, to Support Meals & More Services

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. CICOA Aging & In-Home Solutions has been awarded a $30,000 grant from the Central Indiana Senior Fund, a CICF fund, to support CICOA's Meals & More Services, which provide nutritious meals and wellness support to older adults and...
Two women hugging warmly; an older woman with gray hair smiles as a younger woman embraces her from behind.

Know CICOA Before You Need Us

CICOA helps older adults, people with disabilities, and family caregivers find the information, services, and support they need to live with greater independence and dignity. We provide and coordinate services related to nutrition, caregiving, home safety, care management, and other...