CRAWFORD COUNTY - Not surprisingly, the Crawford County Aging and Disability Resource Center has had to adapt their services to accommodate the social distancing imposed by COVID-19 pandemic.

One of the biggest changes has been converting their two meal sites to carryout service rather than the usual table-seated service. The local ADRC operates meal sites, now as carryout sites, at Desperadoes in Soldiers Grove and Leisure Time in Prairie du Chien.

And the pandemic may be spurring participation. ADRC Director Roby Fuller estimated that overall the agency is now serving about 10 percent more meals. In addition to carry outs at the meal sites, ADRC continues to offer home-delivered meals.

ADRC has shown the following percentage increases in meals at the specific sites since COVID-19.

Desperados Meal Site in Soldiers Grove has seen a seven percent increase in meals provided

Leisure Time Meal Site in Prairie du Chien has seen an eight percent increase in meals provided.

Home Delivered Meals (this is the whole county of Crawford) has seen a nine percent increase in meals provided.

Other services have moved to phone calls instead of office visits. Senior benefit specialist Ashley Greene does Medicare signup, social security signup and drug plan advice over the phone. ADRC has cancelled her monthly in-person Medicare workshops for now. ADRC is hoping to hold a Medicare workshop in July with a limited number of people.

“Right now, we’re doing almost everything over the phone or with Zoom meetings online,” Fuller said

While the County Administration Building in Prairie du Chien is closed to the public. ADRC can still get things dropped off by the public in the entryway, where there is phone with a direct line to talk to office staff.

ADRC workers also are doing outreach to the vulnerable and sometimes isolated clients to touch base with them and offer support.

In addition to the senior benefit specialist, the disability benefit specialists are also working on the phone helping with applications for social security, while information and assistance specialists are helping families and caregivers with placement of people in long term care facilities and arranging for care giving.

“The Aging & Disability Resource Center in Crawford County has worked hard to maintain and operate all our services as seamlessly as possible throughout Crawford County,” Roby Fuller said.  “We have changed our meal operations from congregate meals to utilizing carryout options in both Soldiers Grove and Prairie du Chien.  We have also increased our number of Home Delivered Meals

“Even though our building has, and currently remains, closed to the public we are still able to take appointments by phone.  ADRC staff, along with volunteers when needed, have done a wonderful job of serving the public and continuing our mission of providing older people and people with physical or intellectual/developmental disabilities with resources needed to live with dignity and security and achieve maximum independence and quality of life,” Fuller explained. “This has not ever been more important than now when resources are so critical to those that are the most vulnerable.  I have wonderful staff and great volunteers that have gone above and beyond during this time to make sure that our participants are served.”