By TERESA BROULLIRE

Aging and Disability Resource Center of

Florence County

People want to grow old gracefully and maintain their independence as long as possible. There are many decisions to make as well as information to wade through to ensure needs are met and proper care is received through one’s golden years.

Individuals, caregivers and families may find that a few helping hands along the way can be invaluable.

Are you aging and in need of services or resources but don’t know where to begin?  You can start by reaching out to the Aging and Disability Resource Center of Florence County at 715-528-4890. There are many programs and services in Wisconsin to help people, as they grow older. With the right information and assistance, older men and women can remain in their own homes longer.  Some of the programs and services offered include —

— Family Care and IRIS: These are publicly funded long-term care programs that help frail elders and adults with disabilities get the services they need to remain in their homes. If eligible, these programs can offer in-home services and supports that can help people to remain independent with their daily activities or to provide supports to help someone complete these tasks.

— Senior Nutrition Program: The ADRC of Florence County provides meals on-site and home delivered meals to older people who are eligible.  The ADRC has four meal sites throughout the county, in Aurora, Fence, Florence and Tipler. These meal sites currently are closed due to the COVID-19 situation; however, residents may be eligible for a home-delivered meal instead. 

— National Family Caregiver Support Program: This program provides services and supports that help family caregivers and informal caregivers, such as a neighbor or a friend, care for older adults at home.  The NFCS can provide reimbursement to caregivers for things such as respite, home care, transportation, adaptive equipment, chore services, daily homemaking tasks and more.

— The Alzheimer’s Family Caregiver Support Program: This program was created in response to the stress and needs of families caring for someone with an irreversible dementia, such as Alzheimer’s disease. The purpose of AFCSP is to support caregivers, enhance lives and keep people in their homes as long as possible.

Caregivers may be reimbursed through the program for services such as care coordination, in-home respite, adult day care, home care, home-delivered meals, transportation expenses, incontinence supplies, special locks or alarms, lifeline, caregiver education classes and more.

For more information on these programs, or if interested in applying for them, contact the Aging and Disability Resource Center of Florence County at 715-528-4890. Or go to www.florencecountywi.com and click on Aging and Disability Resource Center or go to Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ADRC-of-Florence-County-WI.