Aging Department
AARP Tax-Aide Program
Most people who
work need to file a tax return. The
AARP Tax-Aide program was created to meet this need and to help low- and
middle-income taxpayers prepare and file their income tax returns with the IRS,
free of charge. Every year, from February 1st through April 15th, trained and
certified volunteers will prepare your federal tax return, and each year, more
locations are equipped to file your return electronically, allowing you to
receive your refund much faster.
In Jackson
County, AARP tax counseling services are available at the following location:
City
Black River Falls
Location and Street Address
CO-OP Credit Union
100 East Main St
Black River Falls, WI 54615
715-284-5333
Days/Hours
Call for more
information.
Appointment Required
Yes
E File
Yes
For more
information please click on the links below:
AARP
http://www.aarp.org/money/taxaide/taxpreparation/
Wisconsin Dept of Revenue
http://www.dor.state.wi.us/faqs/pcs/county/w.html
~ Back to List ~
Benefit Specialists
A benefit specialist is a person
trained to help older persons who are having a problem with their private or
government benefits.
Benefit specialists are often
called “red tape cutters” because they are experts at helping older persons with the
extensive and complicated paperwork that is often required in benefit programs.
They help older persons figure out what benefits they are entitled to and tell
them what they must do to receive them.
Benefit specialists receive
ongoing training and are monitored by attorneys knowledgeable in elder law. The
attorneys are also available to assist older persons in need of legal
representation on benefit matters.
Who Should Seek
Help From A Benefit Specialist?
- Older persons who just
want to know more about any private or public benefit.
- Older persons who need
help in organizing the paperwork to apply for benefits.
- Older persons who have
been denied a benefit that they think they are entitled to receive.
What Benefit
Specialists Can Do
- Provide accurate and
current information on your benefits.
- Suggest alternative
actions that you can take to secure benefits or appeal denials of
benefits.
- Advocate on your behalf
with other parties.
- Explain what legal
action or other possible solution is required.
- Refer you to an appropriate
attorney when necessary.
Benefit specialists can help you
with a variety of programs and issues, including:
- Medicare;
- Medicare Supplemental
Insurance;
- Supplemental Security
Income (SSI);
- Social Security;
- Medical Assistance;
- Consumer problems;
- Age discrimination in
employment;
- Homestead Tax Credit;
- Housing problems;
- Supportive Home
Services;
- Food Stamps;
- Veteran’s Administration
benefits;
- General Relief; and
- Other legal and benefit
problems.
Who Is Eligible
For Benefit Specialist Services?
Anyone 60 years of age or older
who is having a problem in securing a public or private benefit is eligible for
the Benefit Specialist Program.
What Does the
Benefit Specialist Service Cost?
The program is supported with
funds from the State of Wisconsin and the federal Older Americans Act. There is
no charge for the service, but persons assisted by the program are encouraged
to make a donation towards the cost. All donated funds will be used to expand
the program. Services will not be refused or limited in any way if a
contribution is not made.
Where do I find a
Benefit Specialist?
For more information, contact the benefit specialist
nearest you. Ask specifically for the benefit specialist when calling. To
receive the best service, it is advisable to schedule an appointment in
advance.
To see a list of benefit
specialists state wide, please visit the following web site:
http://www.dhfs.state.wi.us/Aging/Genage/benspecs.htm
~ Back to List ~
Elder Abuse
Have you ever been
called names, has someone make threats or hurt you, neglect the care they
promised you, withheld money, food or medicine, kept you from seeing your
doctor, restricted you from having contact with friends or family, pushed or
slapped you, taken things without your permission or kept you from your bank
account? Any of these actions may be
considered elder abuse. You can
anonymously report cases of elder abuse on behalf of yourself or some you
suspect may be being abused by calling 715-284-5898 or toll free at
877-441-0915.
For more information visit the Wisconsin Department of
Health and Family Services web site at:
http://dhfs.wisconsin.gov/aging/elderabuse/index.htm
~ Back to List ~
Energy Assistance
The
Wisconsin Home Energy Assistance Program (WHEAP) administers the federally
funded Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and Public Benefits
Energy Assistance Program. LIHEAP and its related services help over 100,000
Wisconsin households annually. In addition to regular heating and electric
assistance, specialized services include:
·
Emergency fuel assistance,
·
Counseling for energy conservation and energy budgets,
·
Pro-active co payment plans,
·
Targeted outreach services,
·
Emergency furnace repair and replacement.
Services
are provided locally through:
The Jackson County Department of Health and Human Services
420 State Highway 54 West
PO Box 457
Black River Falls, WI 54615
Phone: 715-284-4301
Fax: 715-284-7713
Appointments
can be made by calling the number listed above. In addition, outreach clinics are scheduled annually. Dates and times for outreach clinics are
listed in the local newspapers each fall.
For more
information, please click on the following web page link:
Wisconsin Division of Energy http://heat.doa.state.wi.us/
~ Back to List ~
Family Caregiver
Title III, Section 316 of the Older Americans Act creates the National Family
Caregiver Support Program (NFCSP)(Title III-E). In Wisconsin, services are to be
provided by or contracted through the local aging unit. The program provides for
multifaceted systems of support services for (1) family caregivers; and
(2) grandparents or older individuals that are relative caregivers. The intent of
the program is to provide information, support and assistance to family caregivers.
Services
include:
- Information to caregivers about available services;
- Assistance to caregivers in gaining access to supportive services;
- Individual counseling,
organization of support groups, and caregiver training to assist caregivers in making decisions and solving problems
relating to their roles;
- Respite care to enable caregivers to be temporarily relieved from their
caregiving responsibilities; and
- Supplemental services, on a limited basis, to complement the care provided by caregivers.
Eligible
Populations:
- Family caregivers of older adults (age 60 years and older); and
- Grandparents and relative caregivers of children not more than 18
years of age (including grandparents who are sole caregivers of
grandchildren and those individuals who are affected by mental retardation
or who have developmental disabilities).
For more information you can
visit Department of Health and Human Services National Family Caregiver Support
Program’s Resource Room at:
National
Family Caregiver
Care Planner:
www.careplanners.net
Eldercare Locator: www.eldercare.gov
Family Caregiver Alliance: www.caregiver.org
Family Care America: www.familycareamerica.com
Well Spouse Association:www.wellspouse.org
Wisconsin Alliance for Family Caregiving:
www.uwex.edu/ces/flp/caregiving/
~ Back to List ~
Foot Care Clinics
The Black River Falls Memorial Hospital has partnered with the Jackson
County Department of Health and Human Services, Aging Unit to provide foot care
clinics for county residents 60 years and older.
Services will include a foot soak; nail trim and powder/lotion massage. Clinics will be held once a month at the
Jackson County Department of Health and Human Services building located in
Black River Falls. These clinics will
be for non-diabetic seniors, and a small fee will be charged.
If you would be interested in participating in one of
these foot clinics, please call the Jackson County Health and Human Services
Aging Unit at 715-284-4301.
~ Back to List ~
Home Delivered Meals
Eligibility: Home-delivered meals are
available for Jackson County resident’s age 60 and older and who are homebound
by illness, disabled or isolated (or are the spouse of a homebound individual
and are unable to leave home under normal circumstances; cannot come to a meal
site because of physical or mental impairment; and cannot obtain/prepare your
own meals and have no other adult able or willing to do so.
Qualifications: A member of the Aging Unit or
other qualified individual must first conduct an in home assessment for all
persons interested in home delivered meals. Meal delivery is available
Monday through Friday except in the city limits of Black River Memorial Hospital, where
Saturday meal delivery is also available. Service area is subject to the
availability of volunteers in certain areas of the county. A
donation of $3.25 is suggested. All
donations remain confidential.
Requirements: If
you will not be home on a day that you are scheduled to receive a meal due to a
medical appointment or other circumstance, please contact the Black River Memorial Hospital and/or
the Aging Unit. If you do not answer
the door, the driver will notify the Aging Unit at which time we will try to
reach your emergency contact. If we can
not contact someone, a police officer may be called to check on you.
~ Back to List ~
Senior Nutrition Program
Any persons age 60 and older including spouses under age 60,
regardless of residency or income level, are invited to attend one of Jackson
County Aging Unit’s congregate meal sites.
All participants are required to register at one of the meals. A donation of $3.25 is suggested. All donations remain confidential.
Alma Center -
Jan's Place
Tuesday through
Friday 11:00 am to 12:30 pm
Hixton - Hixton
Blue Collar
Café
Monday through
Thursday 11:00 am to 12:30 pm
Melrose - L
& M Café
Monday through
Thursday 11:00 am to 1:00 pm
Merrillan -
Merrillan Café
Monday through
Thursday 11:00 am to 1:00 pm
~ Back to List ~
VIP
VIP stands for Visually Impaired Persons of Jackson
County. VIP’s are people, just like you, who needed answers to the same questions you
are asking now. We are learning to cope
with changing vision, adapt to lifestyle changes and make vision loss just an
inconvenience.
How Do I Find Out More?
START NOW!!! There are many things you can learn before your vision declines.
·
How will I be
able to accomplish normal daily living activities?
·
How will I
learn to better communicate with others and help them communicate with me?
·
Will I be able
to enjoy live, entertainment and recreation?
·
What are my
transportation alternatives?
·
Who do I turn
to for help?
Come to our support group meeting.
LOCATION: River Grove Apartments - Social Room
130 South Water Street
Black River Falls, WI 54615
TIME: 10:30 am to 11:30 am
DATE: 2nd Thursday of each month
FOR A RIDE CALL: Jackson County Aging
Unit: 715-284-4301
For more information you can visit the following web sites:
The Wisconsin Council for the Blind web site at: http://www.wcblind.org/
The Wisconsin Lions web site at: http://www.wisconsinlions.org/
~ Back to List ~
Volunteer Opportunities
Medical
Transportation - Transporting patients to medical appointments. Mileage and meal reimbursement. Work as often as one day per week or as
little as one day per month.
Home
Delivered Meal Drivers - Delivering meals to home bound seniors in Jackson
County. Select the day or days you wish
to work.
Volunteer Guardians - The Jackson County Department of Health and
Human Services is seeking to establish a list of volunteers to serve as
legally appointed guardians for older adults and individuals with
developmental disabilities. If you think you might be interested
in learning more about becoming a Volunteer Guardian, contact the Aging
Unit at 284-4301 extension 353.
Tax
preparation assistance - Assist seniors in completing income tax forms. Training is required for this position. Clinics begin in February and end in
April.
Advisory
Committee Members - Provide direction for the Aging Unit. Monthly meetings, usually the 3rd
Monday of the month at 1:30.
Medicare
Integrity Project – Learn how to spot Medicare fraud and errors, and make
referrals if fraud is suspected.
Training is required.
~ Back to List ~
|
