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The following links to websites may be helpful in your search for information and online assistance. Simply click on any of the topics featured below to find a complete listing of related sites.
Please note: These websites and links are not controlled or operated by the Aging & Disability Resource Center serving Calumet, Outagamie, and Waupaca Counties. This listing is not intended as an endorsement of the organization or information provided, or warranty of any type on the host website.
Advocacy
Aging
Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia
Benefits
Caregiving Resources
Disabilities Resources
General Resources
Government
Grandparents
Grief
Health
Home Care
Housing
Legal
Mental Health
Vision Impaired
Advocacy (many of the organizations listed under the 'Aging' and 'Disabilities' sections also provide advocacy services)
Ombudsman Program through the Board on Aging and Long Term Care. Investigates complaints in nursing homes and long term care facilities throughout Wisconsin.
Disability Advocates Wisconsin Network (DAWN) is a statewide grassroots cross-disability network of people who care about disability issues. DAWN supports legislative change in the programs and systems affecting people with all disabilities.
Wisconsin Legislature - find out who represents you.
Aging
Bureau of Aging and Long Term Care Resources. This statewide agency is responsible for the aging network in Wisconsin.
County Aging Units in every county. Includes a complete listing of all the local aging units around Wisconsin.
The National Clearinghouse for Long Term Care website provides comprehensive information about long-term care planning, services and financing options, along with tools to help people begin the planning process.
The Coalition of Wisconsin Aging Groups provides information on advanced planning, legislative issues for older adults, and guardianship information.
The Bay Area Agency on Aging offers information on legislative issues that are important to older adults and a means for you to advocate for these issues to your representatives.
Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia
Alzheimer's Association provides information and services to people with Alzheimer's, caregivers, researchers, physicians, and health care professionals.
Alzheimer's Disease: Unraveling the Mystery. An on-line booklet from the National Institutes of Health provides basic information about the disease and includes numerous graphical representations.
ADEAR (Alzheimer's Disease Education and Referral Center) maintains information on Alzheimer's disease research, diagnosis, treatment, drugs, clinical trials, and Federal Government programs and resources.
Copper Ridge Institute's "Caring for a Loved One with Alzheimer's Disease" is a new caregiver training program designed especially for families that are providing care to loved ones with Alzheimer's Disease and other dementias in the home setting. The program is free online at www.alzcast.org in English with Spanish subtitles.
Mayo Clinic Alzheimer's Disease Center provides articles on driving, caregiving tips, nutrition, communication, stress management, depression, and interactive caregiver stress tools.
Wisconsin Alzheimer's Institute provides listings of local diagnostic clinics, education and training opportunities, and much more.
Benefits (Medicare benefits, Social Security benefits, Medical Assistance, etc.)
The Medicare website includes all federal programs associated with Medicare benefits and where to get help.
The Social Security website provides information on retirement, Medicare benefits, disability and SSI, survivor benefits, and much more. You can also apply for Social Security benefits online.
Information on the Senior Care Drug Assistance program for Wisconsin residents 65 years of age or older who meet the eligibility criteria. A program designed to help seniors with their prescription drug costs.
Senior Care Drug Assistance program fact sheets, forms, and handbooks about senior care. Information from this site is available in Spanish, Hmong, and Russian.
Needy Meds is a database of drug programs that offer financial assistance paying for medications offered through pharmaceutical programs.
Information provided by The Elder Law Center of The Coalition of Wisconsin Aging Groups, with in-depth information about the Medicare Prescription Drug Program to assist Medicare beneficiaries, professionals, and the general public in better understanding Wisconsin's prescription drug coverage options including Medicare Part D.
An excellent resource regarding the coming changes in Medicare and how they might affect you.
The Wisconsin Physicians Service-Medicare is a searchable Medicare coverage manual.
The Wisconsin Office of the Commissioner of Insurance provides information on Medicare Supplement Insurance Approved Policies.
Benefits Check Up website can be used to see if there are any financial programs that could help you.
Access.Wisconsin.gov provides information about eligibility for health and nutritional services. This website is a quick and easy way for people who live in Wisconsin to find out if they are eligible for financial assistance with buying food, low- or no-cost health care for families, help with buying prescription drugs, and more.
Comprehensive information about tax credits for low income families and individuals in Wisconsin such as earned income credit and Homestead Tax Credit. This site includes information on eligibility, benefits, and procedures for filing.
Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs
Caregiving Resources
The Alliance is a network of individuals with a common goal of educating, connecting, and supporting organizations and individuals who work with family caregiving. This site is designed to help professionals working with family caregivers find resource materials, research, training, and networking opportunities.
The National Alliance for Caregiving is dedicated to providing support to family caregivers and the professionals who help them and to increasing public awareness of issues facing family caregivers.
The National Family Caregivers Association educates, supports, empowers, and speaks up for the more than 50 million Americans who care for loved ones with a chronic illness or disability or the frailties of old age.
CarePages are free, personal, private web pages that help family and friends communicate with each other and others when someone is receiving care.
Because We Care Caregiver Handbook: Comprehensive guide to caregiving issues including: housing, finances, advance directives, respite, and many others.
Hospice Foundation provides information about Hospice and resources, offers readings, and provides an opportunity to share your story with others.
The League of Experienced Family Caregivers (LEFC) is a registry of family members who care for their spouses, parents, or other elderly relatives and who want to help other families by sharing information about their experiences as caregivers.
The Wisconsin Family Caregiver Support Program is designed to help local and long-distance family members and friends, who care for persons age 60 and over; or individuals with Alzheimer's disease and related disorders regardless of age.
Disabilities Resources
Disability Rights helps people across Wisconsin gain access to services and opportunity through its advocacy and legal expertise. They challenge systems and society to create positive change and improve the lives of people with disabilities.
The ARC provides services, programs, and advocacy to promote the general welfare of individuals with developmental disabilities.
The mission of the Autism Society of Wisconsin is to improve the lives of all affected by autism in Wisconsin.
The Brain Injury Association of Wisconsin provides programs and services to promote their mission: "The prevention of brain injury and the full participation in life for individuals with brain injury".
The Down Syndrome Association of Wisconsin provides support to families and individuals with Down syndrome through education, information, and the exchange of ideas and experiences.
The Waisman Center in Madison provides specialty clinics in partnership with UW Hospital for individuals with developmental disabilities.
General Resources
The State of Wisconsin promotes and funds Aging and Disability Resource Centers (ADRC's) around the state, service centers that provide a place for the public to get accurate, unbiased information on all aspects of life related to aging or living with a disability.
The mission of United Way 2-1-1 is to provide easy, simple access to health and human services, to give callers an opportunity to give or get help, and to serve as a hub for community information in times of disaster.
The Eldercare Locator is a public service of the U.S. Administration on Aging and is a tool for finding resources for older adults in any U.S. community.
The 2008 Aging and Disability Resource Directory for Outagamie County (71.36 MB pdf)
Administration on Aging includes a lot of information on aging issues and caregiving.
AARP info on aging topics like driving, health, resources, nursing homes, and much more.
Nursing Home Compare: Nursing Home survey results and facilities in your area.
Senior Resources data base of local community resources in the Wisconsin area.
Options for Independent Living has great information on available adaptive aides for home use and a virtual tour right online.
Government
Better Business Bureau
Federal Consumer Information Center
U.S. Internal Revenue Service
Medicare
Social Security
Wisconsin Department of Agriculture Trade & Consumer Protection
Wisconsin Department of Revenue
Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs
The Wisconsin Legislature
Wisconsin Office of the Commissioner of Insurance
Grandparents
Grandparenting Today provides a variety of information for grandparents raising grandchildren, including legal, financial, and emotional information plus more.
Grandsplace: Information about Health Insurance for grandchildren, legal information, dealing with alcohol and other drug abuse in the family, and topics in everyday living. Chat with other grandparents in the chat room, or leave messages on the message board.
Grief
GriefCompanion.org features writings from a variety of classic and contemporary writers that grieving people have found helpful and comforting.
Health
Wisconsin Consumer Guide to Health Care.
Information in Spanish on a wide range of health topics, including diseases such as Alzheimer's, cancer, and diabetes. Helpful tips on choosing a doctor and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
Fact sheets that outline simple and important preventative steps to reduce exposure to environmental hazards and protect one's health, particularly for older adults with chronic conditions, such as heart disease, stroke, asthma, and COPD. Available in other languages and large print.
A resource directory for older adults that lists organizational names, addresses, phone and fax numbers, e-mail and web addresses on many subjects and health issues.
Information on various types of cancer. Also has resources for free or a small fee.
Get up-to-date information on menopause and black cohosh, hormone replacement therapy, and the latest menopause research.
Home Care
The National Private Duty Association (NPDA) is the nation's first association for providers of private duty home care, which includes non-medical home care services. It is the recognized resource for information and definition of private duty home care practice.
Booklet: Hiring and Working Successfully with In-home Care Providers that covers benefits and challenges of in-home care; how to investigate options (sample contracts, job descriptions, etc.)
Booklet: Hiring and Management of Personal Care Assistants for Individuals with Spinal Cord Injury (sample contracts, job descriptions, etc.)
Booklet: Hiring Paid Caregivers for In-Home Services. (sample contracts, job descriptions, etc.)
Housing
A place to research options in Wisconsin for assistance with care in your home - Home Health & Hospice Agencies and Alternatives to living in your current home - Nursing Homes, Facilities Serving People with Developmental Disabilities, Assisted Living, Adult Family Homes.
The State of Wisconsin provides an overview of the results of Bureau of Quality Assurance inspections of assisted living facilities.
Housing and Urban Development. Find out about housing loans, Section 8 subsidy, rental information, and other housing issues.
Legal
Wisconsin State Bar Association - Elder Law Section works to develop and improve the laws that affect the elderly, and promotes high standards of ethical performance and technical expertise for those who practice in the area.
Power of Attorney and Living Will Forms - State of Wisconsin: The Wisconsin Department of Health and Family Services has advance directive forms available online. These forms are designed to be completed without the assistance of an attorney. Given your particular circumstances or concerns, however, you may want to seek legal advice from an attorney.
WisPAC: The Wisconsin Pooled & Community Trusts (WisPACT trusts) provide for the special needs of persons with disabilities without endangering their eligibility for public benefits or placement on waiting lists.
Mental Health
Wisconsin United for Mental Health is a new umbrella organization of 20 partners who are collaborating with the goal to eradicate the stigma of mental illness through education. This website has great information about mental illness, it busts myths about mental illness, and provides links to other sites.
Depression-screening.org: This website is sponsored by the Mental Health America as part of the Campaign for America's Mental Health. The mission of this website is to educate people about clinical depression, offer a confidential way for people to get screened for symptoms of the illness, and guide people toward appropriate professional help if necessary.
The National Alliance on Mental Illness is the nation's largest grassroots organization for people with mental illness and their families. Founded in 1979, NAMI has affiliates in every state and in more than 1,100 local communities across the country.
Vision Impaired
American Foundation for the Blind includes various information for the blind and visually impaired, working to expand possibilities for people with vision loss.
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