By Dinah Landry, CCOA Executive Director
The Cameron Council on Aging joins the rest of American in celebrating Older Americans Month in May of each year. This year’s theme is “Age My Way”.
Over 1200 senior citizens are provided services each year by the Council on Aging. Services for senior citizens are designed to serve persons age 60 and above throughout Cameron Parish.
As you can imagine, since Hurricanes Laura and Delta and the pandemic, needs for seniors have changed drastically. Through the help of funding from Washington, D.C., the Council on Aging has been able to provide services unique to disaster issues.
The Council on Aging office was spared the brunt of these hurricanes but the senior center was a total loss and the GED building was completely gutted. The entire fleet of vehicles for public transit was destroyed. After several months the fleet was restored and the transit system was in full operation. The GED building has been moved next to the office and will soon be restored and utilized for a Senior Center.
In the midst of all of this confusion, the COA has only missed one month in supplying meals for the seniors. Mom’s Meals has been shipping meals to homes for the past 18 months. Over 100 senior citizens benefit from this meal program. Funding was obtained for weekend meals with the help of Subway, Canik’s and Brown’s in Hackberry.
Funding was obtained to purchase and distribute heaters, air conditioners, sheets, towels, carbon monoxide detectors, safety kits, air purifiers, and other necessary items. Medical equipment has been purchased and supplied to those in need. Assistance with medical bills, utility bills, water bills, and assistance in obtaining food items are on-going programs.
Newspaper subscriptions and activity kits have been distributed to keep the senior citizens in touch with the rest of the world as well as keep depression away.
All of these services and more have been provided, despite COVID 19 regulations and forced cancelations and closures. The Cameron Council on Aging has a great team of employees who are dedicated to the job, weekdays and weekends.
As Executive Director, I would like to take this time to recognize the group of warriors who marched on through the pandemic and the hurricanes to be sure our people were served. Tina Wolfe, Transit Manager and all around “go to gal”, Mary Johnson, Office Manager, John Ogea, Transit Dispatcher, Alan LaVergne, driver, C.S. Darbonne, driver, Mike Askew, driver, Jean Demarets, driver and homemaker, Sherry LaVergne, outreach worker, Sharon Furs, caregiver and all around “organizer”, Sybil Wolfe, apartment manager, Peggy Hebert, receptionist, Seaux Kleen – Marcy and Tammy, homemakers, Beulah Bradley, Hackberry/Johnson Bayou worker, Gabby Gay, newsletter editor, Brandon Morgan, maintenance, and Art Matte, CPA.
These persons along with a great board of directors and advisory board make up a team I am proud of.
As we celebrate May 2022, we would like to take this opportunity to let the senior citizens of Cameron Parish know that we are honored with the opportunity to service you all. Call us at 337-905-6000, we are here to serve you!
“Age My Way – Cameron Parish Proud”