Dane County to Award Grants to Help Older People and Those with Disabilities Remain in Their Homes

September 06, 2023
Ariana Vruwink, 608-267-8823
County Executive, Human Services Department

Over 1,100 residents of Dane County are now eligible for grant dollars to help them stay in their own homes under a new statewide independent living initiative. Dane County’s Aging and Disability Resource Center is now accepting applications for the program that, over the course of the next several months, is expected to award $8.4 million in grants. Those who qualify for the program will each receive up to $7,200. The dollars will be able to help with everything from purchasing special medical equipment to helping with home care.

 

“These grants are another way for us to support those most vulnerable in our community,” County Executive Joe Parisi said. “We know as people age that families experience difficult decisions about how to best care for them in the spaces they’re most comfortable being in. I’m hopeful these new dollars help ease the burden for those providing care, allowing those they love to stay at home longer.”

 

Families can use the funds to make changes to homes and cars to make independent living more feasible. It can also help cover the costs of education about caregiving, assisting with personal care, installing emergency response systems, meals, access to internet/Wi-Fi, and supports for financial and legal assistance. People must be enrolled by March 31, 2024. Applications for the program will remain open until next spring or until all of the eligible slots are full. Funds will need to be spent by March of 2025.

 

The Independent Living Supports Pilot Program will help people stay in their homes through short-term, flexible help for older people and people with disabilities. Eligible Dane County participants can include older adults age 55 and over, or adults with qualifying disabilities (18-54), whose income is lower than the 300% of federal poverty and who are not enrolled in Medicaid but could use supports to remain living safely at home.

 

The Dane County Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) will help identify eligible participants, assist them with enrollment through an in-home functional screening to determine eligibility. For more information about the Independent Living Supports Pilot program and how it benefits the local community, please contact the ADRC of Dane County at 608-240-7400 or ADRC@countyofdane.com

 

The WI Department of Health Services (WI DHS) statewide pilot will distribute over $35 million and is paid for by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).