SSM Health Waupun Memorial Hospital staff has been focusing on effectively serving the increasing number of aging adults in a variety of ways sitting at the planning table with City of Waupun leaders.  

This extensive planning has led to coordinating aging centric programs with the City of Waupun, supporting the Waupun Coalition on Aging as a key partner, representing health care on the DHS Senior Isolation and Loneliness Coalition, and supporting the planning of a new senior center. 

The overall process began with Waupun Memorial Hospital’s assistance to secure a $15,000 Wisconsin Office of Rural Health Aging In Place grant—which assists organizations in improving support of older adults and their caregivers by implementing care resources.  

The grant has helped in the development of an overall plan supporting 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. 

In partnership with Waupun Memorial Hospital, the City of Waupun was also awarded a two-year $150,000 grant from the UW School of Nursing, which supports the implementation from the planning grant work focused on goals to improve the senior center, develop strong wrap around services/programming for seniors, the creation of a housing plan addressing affordable and accessible housing for seniors, and the creation of a plan to improve transportation resources.    

Today, work continues in earnest, thanks to a recent $4.9 million Neighborhood Investment Fund Grant from the Wisconsin Department of Administration to construct a new, 22,000-square-foot senior center. The facility is slated to open in 2024 and will provide space for increased activity and wrap around service to Waupun’s aging population.