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Before A Crisis Hits: Aging Well Events Help Racine County Families Plan For Care, Medicare And Safety

RACINE COUNTY, Wis. — Nearly one in five Racine County residents is 65 or older, and thousands more are caring for a parent, spouse, neighbor or friend. This fall, Racine County Eye’s Aging Well events are designed to help those families find answers before a fall, diagnosis, Medicare deadline or caregiving crisis forces a rushed decision.

Racine County Eye will host three free Aging Well events this October and November, connecting older adults, caregivers, and families with local help with Medicare, home care, senior living, transportation, legal planning, wellness, and aging safely at home.

The fall series includes Caregiver Night on Thursday, Oct. 15; Aging Well East on Thursday, Oct. 22; and Aging Well West on Thursday, Nov. 12. The events build on Racine County Eye’s ongoing Aging Well coverage and past resource fairs, which brought together organizations serving older adults and caregivers across Racine County.

“So many families do not know what they need until something happens — a fall, a hospital stay, a new diagnosis or a Medicare deadline,” said Denise Lockwood, editor and publisher of Racine County Eye. “Aging Well is meant to bring those conversations into one room, before families are overwhelmed. If we can help one caregiver find the right resource sooner, or help one older adult stay safer and more connected, that is reader service in its most practical form.”

Why this matters in Racine County

This is not a niche issue.

Racine County had an estimated 198,919 residents in 2025, and 20.2% of them were 65 or older, according to U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts. That means roughly 40,000 county residents are already in the age group most likely to make decisions about Medicare, home safety, transportation, caregiving, and long-term support.

Another 9,692 Racine County residents are veterans, and 10.7% of residents under 65 live with a disability, according to the Census Bureau. Those numbers matter because aging and disability services often overlap: families looking for help with benefits, mobility, transportation, home care or daily support may not know where to start until a crisis forces the question.

The pressure is not only on older adults. Across Wisconsin, AARP has estimated that 580,000 family caregivers provide $9.2 billion in unpaid care each year. That care includes tasks many families recognize immediately: managing medications, cooking, bathing, running errands, providing transportation, doing home repairs, and coordinating appointments.

In plain terms: if you are not the person aging, you may be the person helping someone who is.

What this means for you

Aging decisions are often made under pressure: a parent has a fall, a spouse needs more care, a Medicare deadline arrives or a family realizes the home that worked for years no longer fits.

The Aging Well events are designed to give Racine County residents a place to ask questions before those decisions become emergencies.

That matters because small decisions can quickly become expensive ones. A missed Medicare deadline can affect coverage. A fall can change whether someone can keep living at home. A caregiver who does not know where to turn can burn out before the family has a plan.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says falls are the leading cause of fatal and nonfatal injuries among older adults. More than 14 million adults 65 and older — about one in four — report falling each year, and about 37% of those who fall report an injury that requires medical treatment or limits activity for at least one day.

That is why this series is about more than booths. It is about helping residents find the right door before something goes wrong.

Attendees can meet local organizations, compare options, gather phone numbers, and learn what questions to ask about care, benefits, housing, home safety, and support services.

The timing also lines up with Medicare open enrollment, which runs from Oct. 15 through Dec. 7. During that period, people with Medicare can join, drop or switch Medicare Advantage or prescription drug plans, with changes taking effect Jan. 1 if the plan receives the enrollment request by Dec. 7, according to Medicare.gov.

Racine County Eye recently published a Medicare enrollment guide explaining key steps for seniors and people with disabilities.

Event schedule

Caregiver Night
Thursday, Oct. 15
5:30 to 8 p.m.
Racine County Eye office, 1926 Albert St., Suite 201 (same building Lee’s Market is in)
Free

Caregiver Night is a drop-in event for people caring for aging parents, spouses, relatives, neighbors or friends. It focuses on practical support for families making decisions about care, safety, services, and next steps.

Aging Well East
Thursday, Oct. 22
9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Fountain Banquet Hall, 8505 Durand Avenue, Sturtevant
Free

Aging Well East will bring together senior services, health care resources, Medicare-related information and community organizations for residents in eastern Racine County.

Aging Well West
Thursday, Nov. 12
9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Grace Church, 30623 Plank Rd., Burlington
Free

Aging Well West will serve Burlington and western Racine County residents with a similar resource-fair format closer to home.

Why these events matter

Racine County Eye’s Aging Well reporting has repeatedly shown that aging is not one issue. It touches health care, housing, transportation, caregiving, public benefits, home safety, isolation and family finances.

In April, Racine County Eye reported on three hidden concerns seniors face at home, including aging in place, home safety and the question of when a home may no longer meet someone’s needs.

Earlier this year, Racine County Eye’s spring Aging Well Resource Fairs brought together providers and community organizations focused on in-home caregiving, hospice care, home remodeling, energy efficiency, insurance guidance and community support. That coverage is available here: Racine County Eye Aging Well Resource Fairs bring community together.

After the spring events, Racine County Eye also reflected on how the resource fairs highlighted connection, not just services. Read more: Aging Well Resource Fairs feature kringle taste contest, highlight the gift of connection.

The fall series continues that work, with a stronger focus on making it easier for residents and caregivers to find help in person.

Five questions to bring with you

Residents do not need to arrive with every answer. A good starting point is knowing what to ask.

If I want to stay in my home, what safety changes should I consider now?
What transportation options exist if driving becomes difficult?
What Medicare or prescription drug plan questions should I ask before Dec. 7?
What support is available for a family caregiver who is overwhelmed?
When should a family start talking about senior living, hospice, legal planning or in-home care?

These are the kinds of questions that are easier to ask at a resource fair than during a hospital discharge, a family emergency or a last-minute enrollment deadline.

Who should attend

The events are for:

Older adults looking for local services, programs or support
Adult children helping parents make decisions
Family caregivers
People comparing Medicare or insurance options
Residents looking for help with home care, senior living, transportation, fraud prevention, legal planning, benefits, health screenings or aging safely at home
Friends, neighbors and family members helping someone navigate aging-related choices

You do not need to be in crisis to attend. The events are meant for planning ahead as much as solving an immediate problem.

Local help is available year-round

The Aging and Disability Resource Center of Racine County is one local starting point for older adults, people with disabilities and caregivers.

The ADRC says its mission is to provide older adults and people with physical or intellectual/developmental disabilities the resources needed to live with dignity and security and achieve maximum independence and quality of life. The agency offers benefit specialists, caregiver resources, dementia and Alzheimer’s support, long-term care options, wellness programs, transportation information and support for adults and elders at risk.

The ADRC can be reached at 262-833-8777. More information is available here: Aging and Disability Resource Center of Racine County.

Residents can also follow Racine County Eye’s Aging Well section for ongoing coverage of senior services, Medicare, health, caregiving and aging-related issues.

What to bring

Attendees may want to bring:

Medicare or insurance questions
A list of current concerns for themselves or a loved one
Contact information for family members helping with decisions
Questions about transportation, home safety, benefits, senior living or in-home support
A notebook or phone for saving contacts and next steps

Families are encouraged to attend together when possible, especially if more than one person is helping make care decisions.

Organizations and vendors

Additional details, including participating organizations, resource guide information and any scheduled presentations, will be announced closer to the events.

Organizations interested in participating as vendors or sponsors can contact Racine County Eye for more information.

Related Racine County Eye coverage

Sources

Before a crisis hits: Aging Well events help Racine County families plan for care, Medicare and safety was first posted on August 25, 2026 at 5:42 pm.
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