The Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) manager, Randy Cole, told the Walworth County Health and Human Services Board on May 21 that the ADRC completed several program expansions in 2024 and laid out a multi-year plan through 2027.

Cole said the ADRC served nearly 35,000 home‑delivered meals and almost 15,000 congregate meals in 2024, and averaged about 135 home meals and 60 congregate meals per day. "We average over 3,000 contacts with clients per month," Cole said, noting the ADRC also handled about 503 elder‑abuse referrals last year.

The presentation highlighted several funding and program items: a $13,000 ADRC modernization grant used to update branding and vehicle wraps, a Department of Justice grant to support elder‑abuse prevention training in coordination with the sheriff and district attorney, and approximately $200,000 in state re‑obligated funds returned to the county ($121,000 to ADRC operations and $97,000 to aging services and nutrition), Cole said.

Staff described operational changes meant to expand access and options. The ADRC now maintains a private caregiver registry and a home‑repair and maintenance directory to help homebound adults hire vetted private caregivers and contractors; staff said the county performs background checks and clarifies that these private workers are not county employees. The ADRC also created a "choice menu" so congregate meal participants can select between two entrees weekly and developed a prioritization tool for the home‑delivered meals wait list.

Cole described a new partnership with the local food and diaper bank to deliver boxes and frozen items to homebound residents once a month. "Each individual that we delivered to received two significantly sized boxes of items as well as four grocery bags of items as well as another bag of frozen items," he said, noting deliveries are organized by county quadrant.

Staff presented a change project—a toolkit to help families hire caregivers—and plans to pilot a restaurant‑voucher model for congregate meals in 2027. The ADRC also plans to expand health‑promotion programming into more rural locations and to review written materials for health‑literacy and equity in 2026.

Board members asked clarifying questions about liability for the private caregiver registry and the home‑repair directory; Cole replied that the county does not employ those private caregivers and therefore does not assume employer liability. The board also discussed volunteer involvement in meal delivery and reported a reduced wait list for meals from about 70–80 to three people after recent budget increases and operational changes.

The presentation included consumer testimonials produced by ADRC staff; Cole said the video was intended to demonstrate the programs' impact on residents. Board members thanked ADRC staff for the report and the video.

Ending: The ADRC report was informational; no formal vote followed. Staff said the aging plan and the described activities will inform upcoming budgeting and community health assessment work.