ADRC board working to fill needed positions for office

The ADRC of Taylor County is working to fill staffing positions in order to best serve the community. The board met on Wednesday, March 12 and was asked to approve the ADRC specialist position as director Jennifer Viergutz has hired an individual who is ready to start this week. The ADRC specialist will be responsible for providing individuals with information, referral support, and assistance. The board approved the position unanimously.

The new dementia care specialist/family caregiver specialist has already started at the ARDC. This person is responsible for connecting individuals suffering from dementia with the appropriate services and interventions as well as help family caregivers by providing them with support, resources and information which will help them to assist with caring for their family member or friend with a disability.

Also, due to the completion of a grant, the Gilman nutrition site will go back to serving individuals three days a week as of April 1. “People will not be limited food,” said Viergutz. If individuals are authorized for five meals a week, they are still able to choose which days they have an additional meal.

In other action, the board:

• Heard an update from BRI director Amber Fallos who reported that the Advanced Care and Estate Planning 101 event was a success. A larger-than-expected crowd of 80 came for lunch and to learn about planning for aging. “Even though they had those documents in place, they learned from that meeting and that training about different things they can do and more county resources that they weren’t aware of,” said Fallos of people who came that already had estate documents in place.

• Heard from Viergutz that she’s working on planning the volunteer recognition banquet for the hardworking nutrition site volunteers of the ADRC. The ADRC office will be closed from 9:30 a.m. - 2 p.m. on Friday, April 4, as staff will be in Jump River for the banquet.

• Approved the monthly expenses now that the ADRC has officially begun incurring expenses.

• Heard from Viergutz that the Rib Lake School District is looking for businesses in the Medford area that would be interested in hosting students, which the ADRC will be supporting. Viergutz has also reached out to Medford and Gilman in hopes of mentoring students from those districts in addition.

• Also heard from Viergutz regarding Youth Transition Day which was held on February 13. Viergutz reported that all participants had a great time and were excited about resources available to them upon graduation. Due to the success of this program, Viergutz is looking forward to planning other intergenerational activities starting in April.

• Heard from Viergutz that there will be an ADRC booth at the Cutting Edge Youth Center on March 21 to celebrate World Down Syndrome Day.