Crawford County Senoir Resources

Crawford County Senior Resources
Programs & Services

ELDERLY NUTRITION PROGRAMS | BENEFIT SPECIALIST | TRANSPORTATION | OTHER SERVICES

Senior Dining:
Senior Dining meals are available to persons 60 or older and spouses of an active senior dining participant regardless of age.

Senior Dining provides more than a hot, nutritious noon meal for elderly persons. Meals are enjoyed in a warm, family-like atmosphere where opportunities for socialization and friendship can be found.

Donations are accepted for the meals to help provide funding for the nutrition program. The suggested donation per meal is $2.50. The program is available to all seniors regardless of income.

Senior Dining locations are:

Eastman, Salem United Methodist Fellowship Hall, Monday through Friday, serving at 11:30. For a reservation call 608-874-4364.

Gays Mills, Scooters Red Apple Inn, Monday through Friday, serving at 11:30. From a reservation call 608-735-4140.

Prairie du Chien, Memorial Hospital, Monday through Friday, serving 11:00. For more information call 608-326-0235.

Soldiers Grove, TaZzee’s Restaurant, Monday, Wednesday, Thursday & Friday, serving at 11:30. For a reservation call 608-624-3295.

Home Delivered Meals:
Home Delivered Meals are intended for the elderly person who is homebound and unable to attend senior dining facilities; unable to shop and/or cook or has no one available to perform these services.

Special diets are available upon request. Each person applying for home delivered meals must be assessed to determine the individual’s need for service. An initial phone interview is conducted to determine eligibility.

Donations are accepted for the meals to help provide funding for these services. The suggested donation is $3.00 per meal. No one is denied meals because of their inability to pay.

Nutrition Intervention Program:
A registered dietitian is available to provide guidance to seniors on nutrition and health information. Donations are accepted, but no one will be denied services if a person does not make a donation.

BENEFIT SPECIALIST

A Benefit Specialist is a person trained to help persons 60 years old and older who are having a problem with their private or government benefits. Benefit Specialists receive on-going training and are monitored by attorneys knowledgeable in elder law from the Elder Law Center of the Coalition of Wisconsin Aging Groups.

A Benefit Specialist can help you with:
• Medicare and Medicare Supplemental Insurance
• Medicare Part D – Prescription Drug Program
• Social Security & Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
• Medicaid (Medical Assistance)
• Food Stamps
• Homestead Tax Credit
• Housing Problems
• Veteran’s Administration Benefits
• Senior Care-Wisconsin’s Prescription Drug Program

HOMESTEAD TAX CREDIT:
Homestead Tax Credit preparations will begin mid February. Call 608-326-0235 to schedule an appointment.

Who can apply for Homestead Tax Credit?
     * Low and moderate income individuals
     * Individuals with disabilities
     * Elderly
     * Individuals who qualify for the Homestead Credit or the Earned
         Income Tax Credit

Information persons need to bring to appointment are:
     * W-2 wage and tax statements
     * Information on other sources on income and deductions
     * Social Security card of taxpayer
     * Rent Certificate, copy of 2007 property tax bill

TRANSPORTATION

Three Senior Travelers provide door-to-door transportation to persons 60 years and older to senior dining centers, medical appointments, and shopping or recreational purposes on a “first come, first serve” basis.

A new service has been added-any adult county resident in service areas under 60 of age may ride the Senior Traveler for shopping or medical appointments on “a seat available” basis.

Crawford County Service Areas:
Senior Traveler I serves northern Crawford County-Soldiers Grove, Gays Mills & Mt. Sterling.

Senior Traveler II serves southern Crawford County-Eastman, Lynxville, Seneca, Wauzeka and Prairie du Chien.

Senior Traveler III serves the Prairie du Chien Senior Dining Site.

Co-payments are required.

Contact Senior Resources for schedules, co-payments or reservations, 608-326-0235

OTHER SERVICES

National Family Caregiver Support Program:
The National Family Caregiver Support Program is designed to help family caregivers meet the needs of their dependent loved ones. You may be eligible if you are a caregiver of a person 60 years of age or older. No income eligibility testing is required.

Caregiver Services include:
• Respite care in-home or institutional
• Information and assistance to caregivers
• In-home supplemental services such as homemaker, chore and personal care
• Individual counseling and skills training for caregivers.

Crawford County Communique:
The Communique is a monthly newsletter published for seniors. The newsletter includes senior dining and home delivered meals menus, Senior Traveler schedules, blood pressure, Benefit Specialist schedules and many informational articles on senior issues.

The Communique is distributed throughout Crawford County at area grocery stores, banks, restaurants, elderly housing units, and at all senior dining centers.

AARP Tax Aid for Low Income Senior Citizens of Crawford County:
AARP representatives will be at the County Administration Building, 225 North Beaumont Road, PdC on March 13 and April 10, 2008 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Representatives will prepare 2007 taxes for Low Income Senior Citizens (persons 60 or older) of Crawford County. Call 608-326-0235 to schedule an appointment.