MADISON – Half of Wisconsin residents are family caregivers, older adults, or people with disabilities. Despite the struggles families face in providing care for their loved ones and increasing barriers to people getting the care they need to live, the October 22 governor’s debate won’t include questions about these pressing issues that affect millions of people across the state.
That’s why a broad coalition of aging and disability groups will come together on Tuesday, October 13 at 11 a.m. for a virtual nonpartisan policy forum. Both major party candidates for governor were invited to participate during the planning stage for this event but did not accept.
Members of the media can register to attend the virtual forum at this link:
https://bit.ly/
Members of the public can view the event live on Facebook and YouTube:
https://www.facebook.com/
https://www.youtube.com/@WBPDD
In Wisconsin,
- 1.4 million people are age 60 or over right now. By 2050, nearly 3 in 10 Wisconsinites will be aged 60 or older.
- 1.1 million people are family caregivers. Many are working while providing the kind of daily care that private duty nurses and professional care workers do, along with navigating complex paperwork and systems.
- 450,000 people with disabilities are under age 64.
- People with disabilities are the largest minority community in this country. 1 in 4 people in the United States has a disability.
The virtual event will focus on:
Erosion of civil rights protections—Our rights to live in in the community are under threat. We will not go back to being set aside and locked away in nursing homes and institutions that cost the state more and lead to abuse.
Care infrastructure—The businesses and workers needed to help people stay out of expensive Medicaid funded nursing homes; the support unpaid family caregivers need to provide care and continue working; the growing number of non-drivers who have few options to get where they need to go; and the impact, especially in rural areas, when already limited care options are no longer available.
Housing designed to work for everyone—Accessible housing is needed so people with disabilities can remain independent, older adults can age in place, and families can accommodate multi-generational caregiving responsibilities.
Schools—The foundation of belonging that gives all students the skills needed to connect with people who have different abilities and get the skills they need to move into adulthood, employment, and other opportunities.
The forum will include an expert panel of people with disabilities, older adults, advocates, and the professionals who know the people walking through their doors daily, desperate for help. They will share firsthand stories about what is happening on the ground in every community and what is needed to improve the lives of people with disabilities, older adults, and family caregivers.
The forum is co-sponsored by the Survival Coalition of Wisconsin Disability Organizations and the Wisconsin Aging Advocacy Network (WAAN). Together, these coalitions include more than 30 organizations and advocates.
“The Survival Coalition and the Wisconsin Aging and Advocacy Network are leading disability and aging advocate networks in the state. As candidates, executives, and legislators develop policy, we are the experts available to provide guidance and experience from self-advocates on implications,” said Emily Petersen, Advocacy and Public Policy Director for the Wisconsin Aging Advocacy Network. “We urge candidates to watch this forum and, once elected, to engage with disability and aging advocate groups as they make policies.”
“There is a reason to be concerned that people who need help might not be able to get it,” said Tami Jackson, co-chair of Survival Coalition. “People with disabilities and older adults face the risk of being set aside and locked away because they have a disability or there isn’t enough home care help. The decisions state leaders make in the next six months may determine whether there is help when your older mom or dad or you need it.”
