By Rita Shirley LeBleu

There was not an empty seat at T-Boy’s Cajun Grill in Grand Lake during lunch on Wednesday, June 3. The senior citizens of Cameron Parish were there before the doors opened to eat, catch-up and to a degree, hold court. The Cameron Council on Aging hosted their annual Cameron Parish Senior Citizen Day in conjuction with the monthly Meet and Greet event. Original plans had been to host on the regular 3rd Thurday date on May 21, but inclement weather had moved the date forward to June.

Forty-five seniors aged 90-plus were honored. District Attorney Tom Barrett, Sheriff Chris Savoie and Molly Montie from the Louisiana Attorney General’s office were there. Gift cards totaling $2500 were distributed.

The Sheriff reminded attendees about its R-U-OK Program and other programs benefitting seniors. Captain Milton Collins explained after the event.

Seniors who sign up for the program can receive an automated call daily at a time of their choosing. If the automated call is not answered after repeated attempts, a deputy and EMT are dispatched.

A former Marine captain visits home-bound and shut-ins to make sure they’re OK. Individuals of all ages with special needs may receive special stickers for their vehicles and doors of their homes because it’s important to handle situations when you go into an area like that quite differently, according to Collins.

Montie distributed educational resources including a booklet titled, Elder Fraud Prevention with some reminders to heed the gut feeling that something isn’t right and to remember, if it sounds too good to be true, it’s a scam. A few red flags include when the caller insists on immediate payment, donation or other decision. They are reluctant to give facts, answers, details or information. Personal details of interests posted online are used. No written documentation is offered. Financial or Social Security information is requested or they ask for the check to be made out to them.