Older and With Fewer Services, Rural Wisconsin Wrestles With Dementia

Seniors and caregivers in rural Wisconsin have a tougher time coping with dementia due to fewer available resources and services, reports the Wisconsin State Journal . Senior neglect and abuse is rife in Northern Wisconsin's Vilas County, with Aging and Disability Resource Center Director Sue Richmond noting there is no nursing home in the county. Although county employees distribute a list of home care providers to seniors, Richmond lamented that "most of the agencies don't even return phone calls because they don't have staff to provide the service." One such provider, Loving Touch Home Care, only has 20 caregivers — half the number from two years ago, according to General Manager Paul McKenzie. "Because of the economy, a lot of the people who do this kind of work are leaving at a younger age," he said. Lakeland Care CEO Sara Muhlbauer added that it is difficult for providers to have staff located near where all members live, as travel time cannot be billed. Wisconsin allows clients with dementia to designate family members or neighbors as caregivers who can be paid, and Muhlbauer suggested this option could appeal to healthy seniors who want to earn money. Rep. Beth Meyers (D-Wis.) said the northern part of the state faces wide-ranging and intransigent challenges to dementia and caregiving, arguing "we need younger people to either stay in northern Wisconsin or want to live here."