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These programs, also known as Title III programs are:
These programs do not have income restrictions and are meant to serve anyone age 60 and over who are in need of these services.
Other programs offered by our unit are the Benefit Specialist Program and Volunteer Services Program. These programs are not Title III programs but still do not have income restrictions and are available to all people 60 and over in need of services.
The Driver Escort Volunteer Transportation Program is another non Title III program and is the only program that requires a co-payment. It is funded by the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, a 20% County match and CO-PAYMENTS made by each participant. This program provides door-to-door medical transportation for elderly (60+) and disabled individuals of any age who are able to safely get into and out of a private vehicle without assistance.
| Volunteer Programs | |
| Benefit Specialist | Low Vision Support Group |
| Assistant Benefit Specialist | Family Caregiver Support |
| Transportation |
We have several ways in which you can become a volunteer.
Driver/Escort transportation program is always interested in volunteer drivers to take elderly and disabled citizens to and from their medical appointments throughout the surrounding area.
Volunteer drivers are reimbursed their mileage to help offset some of their fuel and maintenance costs.
To sign up as a volunteer driver, contact Angela Porter in the Elderly Services office at 647-4616.
Meals on Wheels Program is always looking for volunteers to help deliver the Home Delivered meals in town. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer contact Linda Symons in the Elderly Services office at 647-4616.
Elderly Benefit Specialist Program is occasionally looking for volunteers to help on various projects that come up throughout the year. If you are interested in volunteering for the Elderly Benefit Specialist program, contact Linda Rohn in the Elderly Services office at 647-4616.
Richland County Nutrition Program is also always looking for volunteers to help at the various meal sites around the county. These volunteers help with activities at the meal sites as well as assisting in the kitchen. If you are interested in volunteering, contact the meal site manager at the numbers listed under the Nutrition Program.
Other volunteer opportunities include Friendly Visiting and Telephone Reassurance, which offers our volunteers a chance to go out and visit homebound elderly citizens or call them to give them a link to the world outside their homes.
Benefit Specialist services range from eligibility criteria information, help in applying for a wide range of benefits, to appealing application denials, terminations, or reductions in benefits. Representation by a Benefit Specialist may involve seeking initial reviews of agency decisions and may continue through the administrative appeals process, including in-person hearings before an Administrative Law Judge or Hearing Officer.
Joanne Welsh, Elderly Benefit Specialist and Linda Rohn, Benefit Specialist Assistant provided 1,254 hours of direct casework and a wide variety of services to 411 people in Richland County in 2003. This program provided a savings of $1,315,208.67 to our county's area residents.
This is a free service to those 60 and over but donations are encouraged, as there is limited Federal, State, and County funding.
The Driver/ Escort program has 16 volunteer drivers that in 2003 gave a total of 4,856.25 volunteer hours to provide our program with 884 trips to 1069 clients traveling 108,199 miles.
This program is funded by a Department of Transportation grant for s.85.21 Specialized Transportation as well as a 20% county levy match and co-payments collected from each participant. Since this is not an Older Americans Act program we are required to charge set fees for each trip.
Some of the services that are available are:
The Alzheimer's Family Caregiver Support Program is designed to assist Family Caregivers who are caring for family members with Alzheimer's or other permanent dementias. This program is currently designed to assist the caregivers in accessing some temporary services or funds to assist them in their caregiving responsibilities.
For more information, contact Linda Symons at the contact address and phone number below.
The Elderly Services Unit holds a monthly Low Vision Support Group that brings together Richland County residents with low or impaired vision to provide them with information and tools that may help them cope with their disability. This group is run by Lois Miller and can be reached at the contact information below.
181 West Seminary Street
Richland Center, WI 53581
Phone: 608-647-4616
Fax: 608-647-6611
symonsl@co.richland.wi.us
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