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Family Care: Wisconsin's Managed Long-Term Care Program

Family Care is Wisconsin's managed long-term-care Medicaid program that can pay for care services -- not room and board -- inside a CBRF or RCAC.

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Family Care, explained

Short answer

Family Care is a Wisconsin Medicaid managed long-term-care program in which a Managed Care Organization coordinates a care plan and provider network for the member. It can cover care services delivered inside a CBRF or RCAC as a home-and-community-based support, but generally does not cover room and board.

  • Administered through: the local Aging & Disability Resource Center (ADRC) handles enrollment for the county where the applicant lives.
  • What it covers: care services (personal care, supervision, some nursing support) inside a licensed CBRF or RCAC, and a range of other home-and-community-based supports. It generally does not cover room and board, which must be paid separately (private funds, SSI, or other income).
  • Regional coverage: Family Care has had regional rollout differences across Wisconsin historically. Whether it is available in all four core counties (Milwaukee, Waukesha, Ozaukee, Washington) today was not fully confirmed in our most recent research pass -- verify current county coverage directly with DHS's Family Care program pages before relying on "available in your county" as settled fact.

Questions families ask

Where is the nearest VA medical center for a Milwaukee-area veteran?

The Clement J. Zablocki VA Medical Center, part of the Milwaukee VA Medical Center campus, serves as the primary VA hospital for veterans in the Milwaukee metro. Veterans should confirm current services and any additional community-based outpatient clinic locations directly at va.gov.

Which hospital systems serve the Milwaukee metro, and why does that matter for discharge planning?

Three major systems serve the metro: Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin, Ascension Wisconsin (including Ascension SE Wisconsin Hospital-St. Joseph and Ascension Columbia St. Mary's), and Advocate Health/Aurora Health Care (including Aurora St. Luke's Medical Center). Each has its own discharge-planning process worth understanding before a hospital stay ends.

Which Milwaukee-area cities have the most senior-living options, and which have fewer?

Milwaukee, Wauwatosa, and Oak Creek have the most directly-based verified providers in this research, spanning multiple care types. Brookfield, New Berlin, Cedarburg, Shorewood, Whitefish Bay, and Franklin currently have no directly-based verified facility in this research, though nearby cities offer accessible options.

What's unique about Milwaukee's Historic Third Ward or East Side for a senior considering aging in place downtown?

Milwaukee's East Side and lakefront corridor (including the Historic Third Ward and neighborhoods near Prospect Avenue) offer walkable, dense urban living with several senior-living campuses, including Saint John's on the Lake and the Ovation Communities campus, both directly on or near Prospect Avenue.

How does Milwaukee's winter weather specifically affect senior care planning?

Wisconsin winters bring icy sidewalks and steps, reduced daylight, and increased isolation risk for seniors aging in place, along with genuine hypothermia risk for anyone with dementia who might wander outdoors. Families should have a concrete cold-weather safety plan, not just a general awareness that winter is coming.

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