WiNNEBaGO COUNTy SENiOR RESOURCE ... - City of Oshkosh

WINNEBAGO COUNTY SENIOR RESOURCE GUIDE 2009 { CAREGIVER INFORMATION } 17
CAREGIVER
Information
In Winnebago County, there is a program
called the Community Options Program.
This program is administered through the
Winnebago County Department of Human
Services. All people that might be at risk of not
being able to live independently in their own
home, are eligible to receive a Long Term Care
Assessment/Consultation.
To receive an Assessment/Consultation, call
Winnebago County Human Services Department
Crisis Intervention/Adult Access Team at
920-236-4615 Oshkosh or 920-727-2882 Fox Cities
Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. -4:30 p.m.
After normal business hours, there is a Crisis
Hotline where assistance and information can be
received; that number is 920-233-7707 (Oshkosh)
and 920-722-7707 (Fox Cities).
The Long Term Care Assessment/Consultation will be
conducted by professionals that will work with loved ones in
determining what needs the person being assessed has and
will offer recommendations that can be followed to meet the
person’s needs. The following listed services may be those
where assistance is needed.
Personal Cares: bathing, dressing, exercise, grooming,
shaving, oral hygiene
Household Chores: cleaning, meal preparation, shopping,
laundry, money management, and socialization
Relief Help — Respite: adult day care (half, whole day,
week), in home staff (temporary or constant provider, or
week at CBRF)
Information — Connections: adult foster care, counseling,
funding, Life Line, nursing home consultation, physical
therapy, transportation, case management, education, housing,
Meals on Wheels, protective services, support groups,
and mobility aids
The Winnebago County Department of Human Services
also has a multitude of written materials and videos available
for loan on caregiver issues.
If a person has financial resources to pay for needed services,
the developed assessment plan will guide the family
to arrange needed services.
If the person does not have financial resources to pay for
needed services, there may be finances available to assist
these needs; however, there may be a waiting list to receive
financial assistance. It is important to receive the Long Term
Care Assessment/Consultation and get on a waiting list to
eventually receive financial assistance to meet needs.
The Long Term Care Assessment/Consultation can also be
done at a time of crisis, by hospital discharge planners, or by
home health care agencies.
Care coordination/
care management
Once needs have been determined,
whether as a result of the Long Term
Care Assessment or as families become
aware of needs, there is a need
to become more knowledgeable of
specific services. There is a wide array
of agencies that can be contacted.
Many families will opt to coordinate
and provide needed care themselves;
others will utilize services available in
the community and others will combine
utilizing available services and
provide some care themselves. This is
a personal decision for the family.
Many people needing assessments
and/or services do not have family
or family living nearby or family who
are willing and/or able to provide
assistance. The individual/family may
also choose to not make contact with
Winnebago County Department of
Human Services. The following agencies,
for a fee, will provide coordination
and other services privately in
Winnebago County. This type of service
is available throughout the country
and may bring piece of mind to
long distance caregivers or to people
who have no one to advocate/assist in
setting up needed services.