Media Contact:

Deputy Executive Jeff Flynt

(920) 448-4083

Brown County Executive, ADRC to Focus on Ageism Issues

(Brown County, Wis.) – Brown County Executive Troy Streckenbach has introduced his 2019 budget proposal, which includes an initiative by the Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) to reduce isolation and loneliness and combat Ageism.

“The issues facing older adults and adults with disabilities are important for Brown County to tackle and this is a way we’re doing that,” says Streckenbach. “Studies show 1 in 5 elderly adults is socially isolated from family and friends, which increases their risk for poor mental and physical health, as well as higher mortality rates.”

“Despite our world of unending connections including the noise of the Internet, Facebook, Twitter and the like, isolation and loneliness has grown into an epidemic for older adults and adults with disabilities,” says Devon Christianson, Director of the Aging & Disability Resource Center of Brown County. “We need to take these issues seriously and tackle the problem, along with Ageism, because the results are very bad for our health. The ADRC is looking to champion solutions to these issues and create opportunities for connection between people-we need to start here and now.”

Part of the isolation puzzle and its health impacts; include our attitudes about aging itself.  Healthy Aging is greatly affected by our views about what growing older.  Those with positive images of aging live, on average, 7.5 years longer than those with negative images.

The ADRC is working to tackle issues of isolation and Ageism through their work with individual people, families and caregivers. New assessment tools, connections to new programing and a ‘Fighting Ageism” campaign will all be part of their 2019 budget initiatives.

Throughout the month of October, County Executive Streckenbach will be holding media events highlighting various initiatives as part of his 2019 budget proposal. The entire Brown County Board of Supervisors will be holding its annual budget hearing on October 31st at 9:00 a.m.

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