ADRC of Taylor County will provide one-stop service for area seniors
The more things change, the more they will stay the same.
At least that is the goal when it comes to the merger of all the area aging services under one organization which will be called ADRC of Taylor County.
Director Jenn Viergutz explains the new entity is created from the merger of the Taylor County Commission on Aging services along with the services that had been provided under what was the ADRC of the Northwoods with the same phone number of 715-748-1491.
Viergutz was previously the director of the COA and oversaw the seven nutrition sites and home delivered meal program, the transportation program with volunteer drivers and the mini-bus, the caregiver program, care call, the development of informational newsletters, the senior exercises and the health promotion programs. She and her staff will continue to do those functions as well as taking on services previously offered through the ADRC of the Northwoods.
The aging and disability resource centers were created as regional one-stop locations for clients seeking services. Initially, Taylor County had been joined with multiple other counties in the northern part of the state as part of a multi-county ADRC. Over the past several years, other counties and tribal organizations had pulled out of the ADRC of the Northwoods, leaving just Taylor and Forest counties and some tribal units. It was decided earlier this year for Taylor County to withdraw from the organization and go on its own to serve the needs of county residents.
“It was just the right time,” Viergutz said, “I think the biggest benefit is it will bring everything back locally for Taylor County. It will serve all of the clients locally and then plus it brings back everything all of the decisions locally.”
In the merger, the only staffing change clients will see is in the dementia care specialists as they are combining it with the Family Caregiver program and making a full-time position.
There will also be some behind the scenes changes as a new board was created to oversee the department taking the place of the previous COA board and ADRC board. The board will include county board representatives Rod Adams as chair and Catherine Lemke along with seven other community members representing specific criteria areas including those with physical disabilities, developmental disabilities, older individuals and at large members.
Viergutz explained that the goal is to ensure the board has representation for all of the client areas they serve. Prospective board members had to apply and were interviewed. She noted they had 11 applicants for seven available positions. She said that while unfortunately some people who were interested did not make it onto the board, it was terrific to see such a high level of interest. She said other ADRC directors complain about having to go out and recruit to get people to be board members, so it was great to see such a high level of interest here.
She said all of the applicants were very high quality and that they would be keeping the applications for when there are vacancies. “I don't want them to lose the interest because we need that continued interest to keep our programs sustainable and easy and people to advocate for us,” she said.
She said as far as clients, the only change they should see is the name on the side of the building.
Next spring and summer there will also be some construction that will take place to expand the office spaces to make things more functional for those working in the ADRC office.
Viergutz said the goal all along has been to have the office be a one-stop shop and now that is truly the case. “You come here and we will get you the services you need,” she said.
Viergutz is optimistic that the change in structure and the merger of the two agencies will improve services for residents. “Each county has its own diverse needs,” she said. “When we're in a consortium with a county that's two hours away, it makes a little difficult, but even if we would pair up with Price County or Clark County, they're close, but their needs might be separate,” she said, noting that with the merger they are able to focus solely on the needs of Taylor County residents.
“I feel this just gives us a stronger voice and more power to serve our own clients in Taylor County. I feel like that's what it's able to do for us. I’m very excited that we're gonna be louder and prouder for Taylor County,” she said.
“I do feel that Taylor County does a good job of serving our seniors,” Viergutz said. “[L]ike when our budget shortfalls with our nutrition program, because we haven't had a raise in our state funds for years, and I have to go to [the county board] and say ‘Hey, we're short. Can you help us out?’ And they have always been willing to do that for us,” she said.
Viergutz said she is is excited for the potential that having local decisionmaking will bring to serve the needs that are specific to Taylor County. She welcomes anyone with questions to call or visit the ADRC of Taylor County offices located in the multipurpose building on the Taylor County Fairgrounds located at the corner of Hwy 13 and Hwy 64 in Medford.
