Aging and Disability Resource Center

We proudly serve Polk and Burnett Counties, and the St. Croix Chippewa Indians of Wisconsin, providing assistance to older adults, and individuals living with a physical or intellectual/developmental disability, or with mental health/substance abuse issues (starting at 17.5 years old). 

We offer guidance and assistance to caregivers and family members of loved ones, spouses, medical providers, and discharge planners, professionals in the community…anyone who cares about or is assisting an elderly or disabled individual.
We assist all people – regardless of income.

Who We Are
The Aging and Disability Resource Center, known as the ADRC, provides the general public with a warm and welcoming office to contact for information and assistance on issues affecting older people and people with disabilities, regardless of income.
The ADRC is the first place to go with your aging and disability questions.  We are an “information station” where you can receive accurate, unbiased information.

What We Do
By enabling people to find resources in their communities and make informed decisions about long-term care, ADRCs help people conserve their personal resources, maintain self-sufficiency, and delay or prevent the need for potentially expensive long-term care.  ADRCs also serve as the single access point for publicly-funded long-term care, including Family Care and IRIS. 

Most services offered by the ADRC are provided free of charge.  People who use the transportation services provided by the ADRC are charged a co-payment for rides.  Meal services, such as congregate dining and home-delivered meals, do not charge a fee but a donation to the program is appreciated if you are 60+ years of age. Others are asked to pay $10 per meal.

• These can be found for FREE in many local businesses, as well as on our website.
• For only $5 a year, you can have it mailed directly to your home.
• Do you want to have The Voice available at your organization? Call us! 877-485-2372
• If you are interested in purchasing ad space in The Voice, contact us for information.

Polk County Government Center
100 Polk County Plaza, Suite #60
Balsam Lake, WI 54810

Local Phone:  715-485-8449
Fax:  715-500-6504

Hours:  8:30 am to 4:30 pm
Monday through Friday

Please enter through the main doors and proceed to take the stairs or the elevator down one level. Follow the signage to our office.

Burnett County Government Center
7410 County Road K, Suite #180
Siren, WI 54872

Local Phone: 715-349-2100
Fax: 715-349-8644

Hours:  8:30 am to 4:30 pm
Monday through Friday

Cost/Suggested Donation: General Public: $10 charge per meal; Individuals 60 Years of Age and Older: $4 suggested donation. No one (60+ years of age) is ever denied services because of the inability to donate the suggested amount.

Amery Congregational Church
715-268-6818
201 Harriman Ave. N, Amery
Serving Time: 11:30 am

Milltown
Milltown Community Center
715-825-5025
301 2nd Ave SW, Milltown
Serving Time: 11:00 am

For dining locations outside of Polk County, please see the links below.
Burnett County
St. Croix Chippewa Tribe

The Meals on Wheels® program delivers hot meals to individuals who are unable to attend the dining sites and who meet the home-bound eligibility criteria. Meals are delivered Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays by volunteers. Frozen meals are available for Wednesdays and weekends upon request.

For more details see our website!

• Individuals 60+: $4 suggested donation per meal. No one who is 60+ is ever denied services because of the inability to donate the suggested amount. These participants are encouraged to contribute any amount they can afford.
• Individuals Under 60 Years of Age (who does not reside with or is not married to someone 60+ who is eligible): $10 charge per meal. These individuals are required to sign an agreement indicating they can and will pay the full meal charge for each meal they receive.

• General Public: $10 charge per meal
• Individuals 60 Years of Age and Older: $4 suggested donation. No one (60+ years of age) is ever denied services because of the inability to donate the suggested amount.

Powerful Tools for Caregivers is a six-week workshop for unpaid family caregivers. There are now two versions of this workshop one focused on family caregivers of older adults (the original Powerful Tools for Caregivers) and one for family caregivers of children (both minor and adult) with special needs (Powerful Tools for Caregivers of Children with Special Needs). Both versions provide caregivers with the tools they need to better care for themselves during their caregiving journey. By taking care of their own physical, emotional and financial needs, the family caregiver becomes a better caregiver. This program is only offered virtually at this time. If you are an organization interested in hosting this program, please contact 877-485-2372.

Cost: FREE
Date and Time: TBD
Location: TBD

For more information about the Powerful Tools for Caregivers Program, you can visit the Wisconsin Institute for Healthy Aging website at https://wihealthyaging.org/powerful-tools-for-caregivers or the Powerful Tools National Organization at powerfultoolsforcaregivers.org

The ADRC offers a limited number of vouchers each year for a program called Eat Smart, Move More, Weigh Less. It is a 15-week virtual fitness program enrolled in by an individual with a new session beginning each month. Participants can elect one of multiple time slots to enroll in a class that fits their schedule. You may attend the class on your computer, laptop, smartphone, iPad or tablet. You are not required to have a microphone or a camera in order to participate in the program. All communication on the participant end is done through typing in the chat box on the screen. The program operates through Zoom.

Each lesson teaches foundational skills, focuses on sustainable changes, and is delivered in an interactive real-time format with a live instructor. This is an evidence-based program facilitated by North Carolina State University. More information is available HERE.

Each lesson includes:

• Information about why the behavior is important for weight loss/maintenance
• Practical strategies for adopting the behavior
• 3-5 minute physical activity break
• Ways concepts can be adopted by the whole family
• Opportunity for sharing and celebrating
• Suggestions for living mindfully
• Guided discussion of strategy for the week

Available Vouchers: 0 (3/13/23)
Cost: FREE
Date and Time: Varied
Location: Virtual

For questions contact 877-485-2372.

We provide transportation to all eligible people who are over the age of 60 and/or disabled for all health related/medical trips.  They will need to have a demographic application completed in our system before a ride can be provided.  Once you are established in our system, then we require a 3-to-4-day notice of the upcoming appointment. 

Our drivers are all on a volunteer basis and we require a 3-to-4-day notice prior to the appointment to schedule a driver. Drivers see all open trips in the schedule and will assign themselves to the trip, then reach out to the client to let them know the following:

1.  Who they are
2. Who they are representing
3. What kind of vehicle they are driving
4. What time they will be arriving to pick them up to get them to their appt at least 10/15 minutes early.

Passengers should be able to get into and out of the vehicle without assistance. Drivers are not required to assist.

Drivers use their own vehicles and are reimbursed for mileage. The passenger/client does NOT pay the driver at the time of the trip. The client will be billed at the end of the month for all the trips that have been completed during that month.  If they use our services 5 times or less, then they will charge .3125 cents per mile. If they have 6 trips within the month, they will be charged .1563 cents per mile. These rates may change based on the IRS reimbursement rate.

The clients can pay their bill by mailing in a check for balance, or use our online payment feature on our website. For questions, see our website or call 877-485-2372.

• Transportation Drivers
• Meals on Wheels Drivers
• ADRC Board
• Aging Advisory Committees (Options in Polk or Burnett Counties)
• Nutrition Council Members
• Newsletter Delivery
• Health Workshop Facilitators
• Dementia Coalition

Each year, Medicare beneficiaries have the opportunity to make changes to Medicare part C (Advantage) or Part D (prescription) plans, during the annual Open Enrollment Period (OEP)- October 15th through Dec 7th.  

The Benefit Specialists at the ADRC of Northwest Wisconsin highly recommend ALL part C or Part D beneficiaries review their plan during the OEP to ensure maximum coverage and savings for the upcoming year. This form (link below) may also be used for initial enrollment into Medicare as well as if you recently moved to this service area. 

If you would like assistance reviewing your plan from a Benefit Specialist, please complete and submit this form prior to Oct 7^th, 2022. Once we receive your screening form a representative from the ADRC will contact you to set up a Part D plan review appointment.