Racine County Guide
Racine County ADRC: Your First Step to Home Care & Medicaid Benefits
The Aging and Disability Resource Center of Racine County is the front door to in-home care and Wisconsin Medicaid long-term care programs — including programs that can pay a family member to provide care. Here's exactly how it works.
Prefer to talk to us first? Call Avida at (414) 348-4600.
Request a free eligibility review
Tell us about your situation and a care specialist will check eligibility for you — usually within 1 business day.
Private &
Confidential
The basics
What is the Aging and Disability Resource Center?
Every Wisconsin county has an ADRC — a free, unbiased service for older adults and people with disabilities. In Racine County, the ADRC helps residents understand their long-term care options, from meals and transportation to full in-home personal care.
Most importantly for families: the ADRC is where the enrollment process begins for Wisconsin Medicaid long-term care programs such as Family Care and IRIS. These are the programs that pay for personal care services at home — and in many cases allow a spouse's adult child, relative, or friend to become a paid caregiver.
Step by step
How to use the ADRC to start home care
Contact the ADRC
Call the Aging and Disability Resource Center of Racine County at (262) 833-8777. It's a free county service — anyone can call for themselves or a family member, no referral needed.
Free options counseling
An ADRC specialist learns about your situation and explains your options: in-home care, meal programs, transportation, and Wisconsin long-term care programs like Family Care and IRIS.
Medicaid eligibility screening
If long-term care at home makes sense, the ADRC starts the functional and financial eligibility process for Wisconsin Medicaid programs that pay for personal care services.
Choose your care provider
Once enrolled, you choose an agency to deliver your care. Many Racine families choose Avida — and qualifying family members can get paid to provide that care, up to $2,000/month.
After the ADRC
Where Avida comes in
Once your loved one is enrolled, you choose the agency that provides care. Avida Personal Care is a locally owned Wisconsin agency with a bilingual English/Spanish team — and we specialize in helping family members become paid caregivers.
- Get paid up to $2,000/month caring for a loved one
- Fast eligibility screening — most families hear back within 24 hours
- Dedicated care coordinator and nurse support
- Serving Racine, Milwaukee, and nearby counties
Not sure where to start?
Call us before or after you contact the ADRC — we'll explain the process in plain language, in English or Spanish, and help you avoid common delays.
(414) 348-4600Racine County ADRC: frequently asked questions
What does the Racine County ADRC do?
The Aging and Disability Resource Center of Racine County is a free public service that connects older adults, people with disabilities, and families of children age 6+ with disabilities with resources and long-term care options. Staff provide unbiased options counseling, benefits information, and enrollment help for Wisconsin Medicaid long-term care programs.
What is the Racine County ADRC phone number?
You can reach the Aging and Disability Resource Center of Racine County at (262) 833-8777. The ADRC serves all Racine County residents, including Racine, Mount Pleasant, Caledonia, Sturtevant, Burlington, Waterford, Union Grove, Wind Point, Elmwood Park, Rochester, Norway, Yorkville.
Does it cost anything to use the ADRC?
No. ADRC services are free. You can call for information, get options counseling, and start benefit applications at no cost, whether you're asking for yourself or for a loved one.
Do I need a doctor's referral to contact the ADRC?
No referral is needed. Anyone can call the Racine County ADRC directly — the older adult, an adult child, a spouse, a neighbor, or a social worker. Hospital discharge planners often make the call, but you never have to wait for one.
How long does the ADRC process take?
Timelines vary based on the program and how quickly paperwork is completed. Financial eligibility is handled through the state, and functional screening is scheduled by the ADRC. Starting with a phone call is the fastest way to get the process moving.
Medicaid home care in Wisconsin: frequently asked questions
Does Wisconsin Medicaid pay for home care in Racine County?
Yes. Wisconsin Medicaid long-term care programs — Family Care, Partnership, and IRIS — pay for personal care services delivered in your own home, including bathing, dressing, meals, medication reminders, and light housekeeping. Eligibility is based on both a functional screen and financial limits, and the Racine County ADRC starts both.
What is the difference between Family Care and IRIS?
Family Care uses a managed care organization to arrange your services, while IRIS (Include, Respect, I Self-Direct) lets you self-direct your budget and choose your own workers, including a family member. Both are Wisconsin Medicaid home and community-based programs, and the ADRC explains which fits your situation. See our full Family Care vs. IRIS guide at avidahealth.org/family-care-vs-iris-wisconsin.
Can the ADRC help me get paid to care for a family member?
Yes, indirectly. The ADRC determines eligibility for Medicaid long-term care programs. Once your loved one is enrolled, a qualifying family member can be paid to provide their personal care through an agency like Avida Personal Care — often up to $2,000 per month.
What documents do I need for Medicaid home care eligibility?
Plan to gather a photo ID, Social Security number, proof of income (Social Security, pension, or wages), bank statements, and information on any property or insurance. Having these ready before the ADRC screening keeps the Medicaid home care application moving.
What if my loved one doesn't qualify for Medicaid?
The ADRC can still help with other resources, and Avida offers private-pay options with a clear written quote after a free call. Call us at (414) 348-4600 and we'll walk you through what fits your family's situation.
Glossary: what these words actually mean
You will hear these words in English on the phone. Here is what each one means in plain language.
- ADRC (Aging and Disability Resource Center)
- The free county office that explains your options and starts you toward long-term care programs. In Milwaukee County: (414) 289-6874.
- Medicaid
- Government health coverage for people with limited income or a disability. In Wisconsin it can pay for care at home, not just doctor visits.
- ForwardHealth
- The name Wisconsin uses for its Medicaid programs and the card you get.
- Long-Term Care
- Ongoing help with daily life — bathing, dressing, meals, medication reminders — rather than short-term medical treatment.
- Family Care
- A Wisconsin Medicaid long-term care program. A care team manages your services and chooses providers with you.
- IRIS
- A Wisconsin Medicaid long-term care program where you direct your own services and can choose who cares for you, including a family member.
- Partnership
- A Wisconsin Medicaid program that combines long-term care with your medical care and prescriptions in one plan.
- Functional Screen
- The in-person interview that measures how much help you need with daily tasks. It decides whether you qualify for long-term care.
- Eligibility
- Whether you meet the rules for a program — usually based on income, assets, and how much help you need.
- Enrollment
- Actually signing up and starting a program after you are found eligible.
- Care Manager
- The person assigned to you who arranges services, approves hours, and answers questions once you are enrolled.
- Personal Care Worker (PCW)
- The trained caregiver who comes to the home to help with bathing, dressing, meals, and light housekeeping. A family member can be hired as one.
- Home Care Agency
- The licensed company that employs the caregiver, handles pay, taxes, training, and backup. Avida is a home care agency.
- Respite Care
- Short breaks for a family caregiver, where someone else covers the care for a few hours or days.
- Out-of-Pocket / Copay
- Money you pay yourself. Most families on Medicaid pay nothing out of pocket for personal care.
- Private Pay
- Paying for care yourself instead of through Medicaid — in Milwaukee that is usually $28–$32 per hour.
Ready to talk? Call or text us today.
Our team is fluent in English and Spanish, with many other languages supported through a translation partner.