With the beginning of 2025, the Shawano County Aging Unit and the Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) of the Wolf River Region will integrate their services.
The best news for seniors and families served by the organizations is that they won’t see any change in their level of services. For Shawano County, officials will see a savings of more than $100,000.
“The Aging Unit will fully integrate with the ADRC as of Jan. 1,” said Missi Rosenow, ADRC aging supervisor. “The ADRC represents Shawano, Oconto and Menominee counties and the Stockbridge-Munsee Community, but only the Shawano County Aging Unit will integrate.”
When ADRCs began to be formed across the state in the late 1990s, most county aging units integrated their services with them. Shawano County is one of the few remaining counties still on its own.
“We will create a streamlined, efficient system to serve older adults and their families,” Rosenow said. “There will be no change in the services offered.”
Now, the county’s aging unit coordinates the senior nutrition program for the congregate sites and meal delivery, transportation, the National Family Caregiver Support Programs, the Alzheimer’s Family Caregiver Support Program, the driver escort program, health programs and other programs.”
While Shawano County is integrating its services, those offered through Oconto and Menominee counties and the Stockbridge-Munsee Community will continue to be separate from the ADRC. Rosenow said that due to tribal rules and funding, Menominee County and the Stockbridge-Munsee Community will most likely always be separate, but Oconto County could integrate services at some point.
Currently, Oconto County is divesting many of the services coordinated by its Commission on Aging and contracting with others, including Menominee County for transportation and Marinette County for the nutrition program.
Shawano County residents seeking information about services should call the ADRC at 855-492-2372.
kpasson@newmedia-wi.com
Categories
