May is Aging and Disability Resource Center month! Have you ever wondered how ADRCs came to exist and serve vulnerable older adults and people with disabilities throughout Wisconsin? Our creation dates back to the 1960’s when, for the first time, congress took a major role in studying and supporting aging Americans. Elected representatives had become concerned about the lack of a social safety net for older adults, so in 1962, legislation was introduced in Congress establishing an independent and permanent Commission on Aging to study the issue. The Commission found that there were over 18 million Americans over the age of 65, a majority of whom had low incomes and were at risk of being subject to illnesses and medical expenses they could not afford.
The result of this inquiry was The Older Americans Act, which was signed into law in 1965. This legislation established the Administration on Aging within the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare. It also called for the creation of State Units on Aging. Up until this point, this act was considered the most important contribution of aging legislation enacted by congress. 1965 also saw the passage of the Social Security Act which created Medicare and Medicaid. By 1972, a new program (Title VI) was created under the Older Americans Act authorizing funds for a national nutritional program for the elderly. By the next year, legislation passed (Title VII) which established the congregate meals program. In 1973, amendments to the Older Americans Act also saw the creation of Area Agencies on Aging and created grants to local community agencies for multi-purpose senior centers.
Fast forward to 1998, when the first pilot program for ADRCs in the state of Wisconsin began. The vision behind ADRCs was to establish, in every community, highly visible and trusted sources of information where people of all incomes and ages could turn for the full range of long-term support options and smooth access to public long-term support programs and benefits. In 2005, the ADRC of Brown County began a partnership with Brown County Human Services as an official agency serving older adults and adults with disabilities together. By 2009, ADRC became the one location for all adults with disabilities and older adults as the place to start. “No wrong door” was the slogan used early on to assure the message to the community was all are welcome, no matter where they were on their journey for care and support. The ADRC’s primary success has been to reach people early and often, helping people to stay living as independently as possible in the location they call home.
As we look to the future in Wisconsin, we know that our aging population is growing and will continue to grow significantly over the next 20 years (between 2010 and 2040, the number of older adults in Wisconsin is projected to double!). However, state funding for ADRCs has remained the same since 2006. This has resulted in some ADRCs struggling to provide core services, and without intervention, that struggle will likely worsen in the coming years.
As you read this, a budget is being developed that will set funding levels for state programs and services for the next two years. Throughout this process, your elected representatives want and need to hear from you about what you care about. If ADRC services are important to you, consider reaching out to your local representatives to let them know that you value ADRCs, and how additional funding benefits you, older adults, and adults with disabilities across the state. To find out who your legislators are, visit
www.legis.wisconsin.gov and enter your home address in the “who are my legislators?” box.
For additional information regarding the 2021-2023 proposed budget, please visit our website at
www.adrcofbrowncounty.org/advocacy-in-action where you will find a budget summary that highlights aspects of Governor Evers budget proposal that impacts older adults and caregivers, as well as resources from other advocacy groups.
