News from Care Wisconsin

September 10, 2008

Family Care Opens in Green Lake County
Benefits Frail Seniors and Adults With Disabilities

Community leaders, advocates and area residents gathered today in Green Lake to celebrate a milestone in the state’s long-term care redesign, the opening of Family Care in Green Lake County. Hundreds of frail seniors and adults with disabilities now have more choices and improved access to needed health and long-term care services.

The ribbon-cutting ceremony also marked the opening of Care Wisconsin’s care team offices at 745 South St., Suite 3B, Green Lake. Care Wisconsin is the care management organization contracted with the Wisconsin Department of Health Services to manage the Family Care program in the county.

“We are proud to be part of Family Care in Green Lake County,” says Ken Eimers, Chief Operating Officer of Care Wisconsin. “This is a positive step forward to ensuring that frail seniors, adults with developmental disabilities and adults with physical disabilities get access to quality services when they need them and don’t go on a waiting list.”

Eimers stressed the importance of the collaborative relationship between the state, the county’s Department of Health and Human Services, and the nonprofit Care Wisconsin. Green Lake County officials also joined in the event.

Eldon Dallman, Green Lake County Board Supervisor, acknowledged the hard work and dedication of county board members, the Aging and Disability Resource Center
Tri-County Coordinating Committee and county staff to implement Family Care.

Dallman is encouraged by Care Wisconsin's commitment to the success of Family Care. "We have the same great team, just a new quarterback. If Care Wisconsin does as well as the Packer's new quarterback Monday night, we're set." 

Area residents began receiving health and long-term care services under Family Care on August 1. About 90 people in the county will transition from current Medicaid waiver programs to Family Care by the end of the year.

So far, 37 people are enrolled in the program. This includes five individuals who have been on a waiting list for services.

Advocates point out that under the old system seniors and adults with disabilities could wait months or even years for community-based services. More than 11,000 people are waiting for services statewide. Family Care will end waiting lists and make long-term care an entitlement by 2010.

Care Wisconsin works closely with the county’s Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC), a single point of entry for people to receive non-biased options counseling, to determine eligibility and to access long-term care services. The ADRC serves residents in the tri-counties, including Green Lake, Marquette and Waushara.

Members of Care Wisconsin’s Family Care program have access to an extensive local provider network for community-based services, such as in-home personal care, medical equipment, assisted living, physical therapy, transportation and help with employment.

At the core of Family Care is a member-centered approach to care and the extra support of a care team, which includes a care manager/social worker and a nurse.

“Our care teams’ focus is on total well-being, prevention and early intervention to help people maintain independence and quality of life,” says Eimers.

Together, members and their care teams create personalized service plans, designed to be flexible and help members achieve goals. Members also have the option to self direct some or all of their services, including selecting hands-on care providers.

For more information on Family Care, contact the ADRC at (920) 294-4122 or toll-free 1-877-883-5378, or visit its office at 500 Lake Steel St., Green Lake.

For more information on Care Wisconsin, call (920) 294-4430 or toll-free 1-877-496-3854, or visit its offices at 745 South St., Suite 3B, Green Lake.

PHOTO 1: (l-r) LeRoy Dissing, Deputy Director of Green Lake County Department of Health and Human Services; Eldon Dallman, Green Lake County Board Supervisor; Suzi Giesen, Manager of Aging/Long-Term Care for Green Lake County Department of Health and Human Services; Ken Eimers, Chief Operating Officer of Care Wisconsin; Judith Frye, Director of Family Care Expansion, Wisconsin Department of Health Services; and Family Care member June Halsey, resident of Berlin.

PHOTO 2: (l-r) Veronica Ottow, Coordinator-Aging & Disability Resource Center of Green Lake, Marquette & Waushara Counties.

For Family Care Celebration Photo Galleries, click here

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