For Immediate Release
October 25, 2023
Contact: Elizabeth Goodsitt/Jennifer Miller 608-266-1683
DHS Marks 25 Years of Aging and Disability Resource Centers Serving Wisconsin Communities
?
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) is celebrating the 25th anniversary of aging and disability resource centers (ADRCs) helping older adults and people with disabilities in our state to thrive. ADRCs were first piloted in 1998 in nine counties and have since expanded to cover all 72 Wisconsin counties and 11 federally recognized Tribal Nations in the state, providing connections to resources like adaptive equipment, dementia care services, meal delivery, and more.
?ADRCs play a vital role in helping our friends, neighbors, and loved ones remain connected and engaged in their communities,? said DHS Secretary-designee Kirsten Johnson. ?Wisconsin?s person-centered, full-service approach to long-term care education and assistance has become a national standard. We look forward to continuing this important work and ensuring we will be able to provide the high-quality, supportive community-based services people want and need for years to come.?
Every year, ADRCs and Tribal aging and disability resource specialist(ADRS) programs log hundreds of thousands of contacts with customers around the state. In 2022, they served over 141,000 unique customers and made over 535,000 direct contacts. In the same year, clients of elder benefit specialists and disability benefit specialists accessed over $224 million worth of services, helping stabilize household budgets and lessen reliance on local crisis and emergency services.
View the entire news release.
|
