(MADISON, WI) The Wisconsin Aging Advocacy Network (WAAN) supports the Governor’s 2023-25 budget recommendations that:
– invest in Wisconsin Aging and Disability Resource Centers (ADRCs) and healthy aging grants;
– provide supports and tax credits for family caregivers;
– address dire funding needs for adult protective services (APS), elder abuse, and domestic violence;
– expand mental and behavioral health services;
– increase funding for Alzheimer’s and dementia supports;
– fund a state long-term care ombudsman position;
– address guardianship training and support needs;
– invest in programs to improve recruitment and retention of long-term care workers;
– expand renter protections and improvements to the Homestead Tax Credit;
– increase funding for transportation supports and broadband expansion; and
– improve access to voting.
Governor Evers has demonstrated a commitment to the needs of Wisconsin’s most vulnerable populations. The proposed investments in programs and services supporting older adults, individuals with disabilities, and family caregivers reflect the growing aging populations, increased need for services, impact of inflation on expenses over the past years (and in some cases decades), and the need to repair
and rebuild our state’s long-term care system, including direct support for paid and unpaid caregivers.
“A number of critical, cost-saving programs and services have not seen funding increases for many years. It has been more than a decade since elder abuse and ADRC services, for example, have seen funding increases,” said John Schnabl, Executive Director of the Greater Wisconsin Agency of Aging Resources and member of the Wisconsin Aging Advocacy Network’s Leadership Team. “We urge the
legislature to support these critical investments that align current expenses and Wisconsin’s aging population. We now need them to do the same for Wisconsin’s home-delivered meal services funding which has increased since the program started in the mid-80’s.”
The Wisconsin Aging Advocacy Network is a collaboration of organizations and individuals working with and for Wisconsin’s older adults to shape public policy and improve the quality of life for older people.
