La Crosse County ADRC hosts town hall to hear from community members

LA CROSSE, Wis. (WEAU) - The Aging and Disability Resource Center of La Crosse County is hosting a town hall at the Black River Beach Neighborhood Center in La Crosse.

Community members are invited to share their perspectives on aging services and learn how state policies affect older adults and caregivers.

“We all want to live and age gracefully, to be able to maintain living independently within our communities of our choice,” said Carissa Pagel-Smith, La Crosse County ADRC manager. “Using a format like today’s allows people to come forward and share their stories and experiences.”

The Wisconsin Aging Advocacy Network says around $27 million in annual funding from the state would help with investing in the ADRC, home-delivered meals, and reducing falls.

Local legislators are also attending the town hall. ADRC officials hope that if legislators hear firsthand accounts from community members, it will get them to work more toward additional funding for the ADRC.

“Legislators hear from me all the time,” Pagel-Smith said. “However, hearing firsthand from constituents to know exactly how they’re experiencing services, or where there are challenges or barriers. Also bright spots, what’s working well—things to continue to hopefully inspire legislators to continue to invest in Wisconsin’s aging services.”

Senator Brad Pfaff says the needs of older adults should be a high priority for all state legislators.

“Learning about specific needs, how we then can develop policies or agreements in which we can come to a better understanding how these various social service agencies can work together with the private sector to provide the elderly, those that are aging, with greater assistance, I think is important,” Pfaff said.

In 2025, ADRCs across the state served nearly 156,000 customers.

Baseline funding for ADRC services increased by $5.1 million in the last biennial budget and $2 million in the 2025 to 2027 budget.