City of Waupun Receives One of Three Office of Rural Health Aging in Place Grants
State’s Only Municipality to Receive Grant Will Create Coalition to Serve Waupun and Surrounding Area
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Kathy Schlieve, City Administrator & Director of Economic Development at City of Waupun, 920.324.7912 or Kathy@cityofwaupun.org.
Waupun, Wis.—March 6, 2018—The City of Waupun is one of three groups to receive the 2018 Wisconsin Office of Rural Health Aging In Place grant. The $15,000 grant – which exists to assist organizations in improving support of older adults and their caregivers by implementing care resources into communities – will allow the city to address the needs of aging adults in Waupun and the surrounding area served by Waupun Memorial Hospital.
“Waupun serves city residents and the surrounding communities with medical, nutritional and recreational activities,” noted Kathy Schlieve, administrator and director of economic development for Waupun. “As we see our older population increase it’s crucial we continue to provide resources as well as identify other needs the community may have so older adults can maintain their independence in a residence of their choosing and stay active in our community.”
The 2010 Waupun Census reported 32% of the population as age 50 and over while that same age bracket jumped to 34.9% of the population in 2017 and is expected to reach more than 36% in 2022. At the same time, the City notes a decrease in the share of households with residents age 65 and over.
“We’re seeing the needs of our residents change,” said Schlieve. “Our older residents are an asset and the Aging In Place grant provides Waupun with access to state resources and tools to identify local projects and programs for older adults and their caregivers so they can remain as independent as possible in the community they call home.”
In conjunction with the grant, the City of Waupun partnered with Agnesian HealthCare (a member of SSM Health) to create the Waupun Coalition on Aging. The Coalition – which also includes the Waupun police & fire departments, city administration, library, Chamber of Commerce and Senior Center – will conduct an assessment to create an inventory of existing services and resources, as well as identify needs of older adults within Waupun.
The City and the Waupun Coalition on Aging will use the grant for two main purposes: develop a plan that supports the goal of increasing the number of older adults who are able to remain independent in a residence of their choosing while also supporting caregivers who are essential for this population to age in place.
For additional information about Waupun’s use of the Aging In Place Grant or the Waupun Coalition on Aging, please contact Schlieve at (920) 324-7910.
About the City of Waupun: The City of Waupun is centrally located along the US 151 corridor within a one-hour drive of Madison, Milwaukee and the Fox Cities and is positioned to support economic growth with available industrial, residential and commercial properties for development. The community’s Downtown Business District is being revitalized with an ongoing commitment to historic preservation, programming to support business improvement, and expanding resources designed to help entrepreneurs.
###
