Right on our own backyard

Sheboygan County Aging and Disability Resource Center has found a new home at the former Sheboygan County Agricultural Building in Sheboygan Falls.

The Aging and Disability Resource Center moved into its new confines last November. Prior to coming to Falls, the center was located in downtown Sheboygan.

“Our office had been on the third floor of a building north of Boston Store in downtown Sheboygan,” Aging and Disability Resource Center Supervisor Milda Zuengler said. “That building has been known as the Baxter building for many years.”

According to Zuengler, the move was made, based on necessity, convenience and economic factors.

“The county was renting space at the Baxter building, so a more affordable location was certainly very desirable,” she said. “When the UW-Extension office moved from the Agricultural Building in Sheboygan Falls to UW-Sheboygan in 2008, prime space become available.

“It was advantageous, because it was county property that had no rent. The building is also centrally located in the county and handicapped-accessible, which is a plus for many people who come to our office.”

The new office serves as a resource center for seniors over age 60 and adults with disabilities, who are seeking access to local home health-care services, including assisted-living and nursing-home facilities.

“The purpose of our office is to give seniors and disabled adults the opportunity to get connected with many of the services they need on a daily basis,” Zuengler said. “Many seniors and physically-disabled adults don’t know what resources are available to them in the community.

“We get them in touch with home care, support groups, food stamps and many other important services and programs,” she said.

Trained staff members serve to educate the center’s clientele on various government programs.

“We have a staff of training benefit specialists, who help people understand programs like Social Security, Medicare and supplemental insurance, hat are often pretty confusing to people,” she said. “We also offer our own classes and seminars.

“We are currently holding a class for caregivers, as well as people living with chronic conditions. We offer these programs in conjunction with other non-profit service agencies in the area. The classes are typically held at clinics and churches throughout the area.”

The new Aging and Disability Resource Center, which serves, as the home office for 16 county employees, is located on the north side of the former Sheboygan County Agricultural Building, 50 Forest Ave. in Sheboygan Falls.

“We basically moved into the offices that had housed the Land and Water and UW-Extension offices, before they moved out in 2008,” Zuengler said. “We now share the building with the Sheboygan Falls Senior Center, which has been in the building for over a year now.”

The new offices will be showcased, during an open house Thursday, March 25, from 3 to 6:30 p.m.

The event will provide community members with an opportunity to view and learn about the new facility.

“People that come to the open house will get to tour our offices and talk to the staff, who will be available to answer general questions about what we do,” Zuengler said. “Our community resource room will be also open for everyone to check out.”

In addition, the open house will include a special Sheboygan County Health and Resource Fair, which will feature 20 area non-profit groups and organizations.

“The Health and Resource Fair will give many of the local service providers a chance to show people what they offer and where can go to get assistance,” Zuengler said. “Many brochures, written materials and resource information will be available to those who attend the open house.”

Because it is still relatively new, Zuengler is hoping to continue to enlighten and educate county residents on what the center has to offer.

“We started the center four years ago, by basically taking the Sheboygan County Office on Aging and expanding it to include resource services for adults with disabilities,” Zuengler said. “We are still relatively new, so I think there are many people out there, who are not aware of us, or what we do.

“We want people to know that we are here for all citizens of the county,” she said. “Use of the resource center is free, and there is no asset limit or anything like that.

“It is open to anyone seeking information, regarding services for seniors or disability adults.”

Those seeking information from the Aging and Disability Resource Center can gain access through several different ways.

“Anyone looking to gather information and resources from our office can either stop by our office to pick up brochures and written information or call ahead to schedule an appointment with a benefit and resource specialist,” Zuengler said. “We also make home visits for people who are not able to make it to our office.”

The center is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. For more information, call the Sheboygan County Aging and Disability Resource Center at 467-4100.