Aging

• Tips for Working Caregivers Brochure(PDF, 864KB)

Elder Benefit Specialists are trained to counsel Outagamie County residents 60 years and older about private or public benefits regardless of income. They are expert advocates at helping older residents with extensive paperwork that is often required in benefit programs. Elder Benefit Specialists are continually trained by GWAAR Elder Law Attorneys knowledgeable in elder law issues. Elder Benefit Specialists work closely with other federal, state and local professionals and serve Outagamie County residents in the following areas: Elder Benefit Specialist Program Purpose Medicare Plan Finder Instructions.

• Benefit check-up and reviews
• Medicare Part A, B and D
• Medicare Advantage Plans (Part C)
• Medicare Supplemental Insurance
• Medicare Low Income Subsidy (LIS) for Extra Help with prescriptions
• Medicaid/Medical Assistance applications, reviews and questions
• Medicare Savings Programs (QMB, SLMB, SLMB+)
• FoodShare application assistance
• Wisconsin SeniorCare
• Prescription Drug Assistance applications and resources
• Social Security applications, overpayments, appeals, discrepancies
• Homestead Tax Credit (only if homebound, no income tax assistance)
• Housing Issues
• Legal concerns and Advocacy

Contact the Outagamie County Aging & Disability Resource Center (ADRC) 920-832-5178 or Email ADRC@outagamie.gov to speak to an Elder Benefit Specialist.

Medicare Plan Finder Instructions(PDF, 184KB)

Outagamie County Aging & Disability Resource Center (ADRC) assures that all Outagamie County residents 60 years and older plus family caregivers of any age, regardless of income, have access to information, resources and opportunities, on a donation basis, according to the federal Older Americans Act.

Aging Unit Role

• Identify and respond to the needs of older persons.
• Advocate for older persons.
• Educate and counsel older persons on current information and available resources.
• Design services and link resources to older persons in greatest social and economic need.
• Assure that services and resources are accessible to homebound, disabled, racial minorities and non-English speaking older persons.
• Provide health promotion and disease prevention activities for older persons.
• Create volunteer opportunities for older persons to contribute their wisdom, talent and skills.
• Draft and implement a County Plan on Aging identifying how federal, state and county funds will be administered in serving older persons.

Core Services, Focus Areas and Compliance Requirements

• Public Education
• Advocacy
• Transportation Coordination
• Information and Assistance
• Nutrition Program (Congregate and Home Delivered meal service, Nutrition education/counseling)
• Elder Benefit Specialist Program (benefit counseling and advocacy)
• Caregiver Support and Education
• Prevention
• Wisconsin Elders Act Compliance
• Emergency Preparedness

Wisconsin Elders Act(PDF, 427KB)

Aging Unit Mission

• Assure that all older persons, regardless of income, have access to comprehensive information about public and private resources and opportunities available in Outagamie County.
• Advocate for older persons to meet their basic human needs.
• Identify gaps in services needed by older persons and provide the leadership to generate public and/or private resources.
• Draft and implement a county Aging Comprehensive Plan with the involvement of older persons.
• Provider older persons with current information on public benefits, legal rights, etc., and actively assist them in securing such eligible benefits and rights.
• Design Aging Network services and resources to reach older persons in greatest social and economic need.
• Assure that Aging Network services are accessible and available to Outagamie County homebound and/or disabled people, racial minorities, and non-English speaking older persons.
• Develop opportunities for older persons to contribute toward Aging Network services and the welfare of their community through volunteer opportunities, monetary donations, etc.
• Collaborate and coordinate with other agencies, organizations, etc., to ensure that older persons have access to services and resources.
• Receive and administer funds in compliance with all federal, state and county laws and regulations.

• Shopping Errand Service for Outagamie County(PDF, 4MB)
• County Plan 2025-2027(PDF, 2MB)
• Aging Service Video
• Elder Match(PDF, 1MB)
• Help for Hire(PDF, 794KB)
• Rebuilding Together, Fox Valley - Safe and Healthy Housing(PDF, 814KB)

• 2026 OC Paratransit Rates and Transportation Informational Sheet - Fees

85.21 Elderly and Disabled Specialized Transportation Assistance

The Specialized Transportation Assistance Program for Counties as defined by Wisconsin Statute 85.21, grants counties transportation assistance for seniors and individuals with disabilities. The amount of funding each county receives is based on how many seniors and individuals with disabilities live in the particular county which is calculated by the Census Bureau and the Wisconsin Department of Administration. Outagamie County supports Urban Transportation, Rural Transportation, and Volunteer Transportation by non-profits with the 85.21 transportation funds. Partnerships with area transportation providers are an important part of this Specialized Transportation Assistance Program’s success. Outagamie County has a Specialized Transportation Planning and Policy Committee that meets quarterly. This Committee is responsible for overseeing the spending of the 85.21 funding, and identifying and addressing unmet needs in our community. If you would like more information about the Committee, please contact Amie Bastian – Aging and Long-Term Support Manager at 920-832-5469.

If you would like additional information about Outagamie County’s Specialized Transportation please contact the Aging and Long-Term Support Division at 920-832-5178.

Aging Units are a creation of Wisconsin law. They reflect the Wisconsin tradition of vesting authority for the planning and provision of services for older people and their family caregivers with local government. The Aging Unit belongs to and is governed by older people. Older people determine how the Aging Unit serves older people and their family caregivers. The Aging Unit empowers older people by assisting older people in helping themselves. The Federal Older Americans Act requires the Aging Unit to advocate for local and societal changes on behalf of older people and their family caregivers.

According to the Wisconsin Elders Act which is a state-level counterpart of the Federal Older Americans Act, the Aging Unit shall work to ensure that all older people, regardless of income, have access to information, services and opportunities available through the county Aging Unit, have the opportunity to contribute toward the cost of services and that the services and resources of the Aging Unit are designed to reach those in greatest social and economic need.

• Older Americans Act and State Funding(PDF, 119KB)