St. Charles Parish Councl on Aging now recovering
Published 12:00 am Tuesday, October 25, 2005
HAHNVILLE — Margaret Powe, Executive Director of the St. Charles Council on Aging, has announced the full resumption of all services to all senior adults 60 years old and older in St. Charles Parish.
“In addition to the pre-Katrina residents of St. Charles, we are also providing services to Katrina evacuees from other parishes who are now living in St. Charles,” Powe said.
“It is business as usual for us,” Powe continued. “All four of our senior activity centers are open and fully functioning, including weekday lunches for all parish senior adults and all the other social and recreational activities and special events.”
There is no charge for the lunches served at the centers, although contributions are gratefully accepted.
Transportation to and from residents’ homes and centers is also provided without charge, but contributions are appreciated.
“Our participants usually contribute a dollar or two for each of these services, which doesn’t cover the costs but does help us serve more people,” Powe said. Both transportation and lunches need to be reserved at least a day in advance, by calling the appropriate center by 12:30 p.m.
Transportation is also available to senior adults for personal business, such as trips to the bank, post office, and medical appointments, and for shopping and recreation. This, too, needs to be requested at least a day in advance by calling 783-6683 by 1:30 p.m.
The St. Charles Council on Aging operates four senior activity centers, two on the East Bank and two on the West Bank.
In Hahnville, the center is at 626 Pine Street, in the old Hahnville Elementary School. The center manager is Stephanie Boudreaux, and the telephone number is 783-3008.
The Luling Center is located at 145 Angus Drive, behind St. Charles General Hospital. The center manager is Sharyn Endres, and the telephone number is 785-1981.
In New Sarpy, the center is at 150 Trosclair Drive. The center manager is Lois Eugene, and the telephone number is 764-2412.
The Norco center is at 149 Apple Street, across the side street from Greaud’s.
The center manager is Jill Campo, and the telephone number is 764-7025.
“We have also resumed the full array of services to eligible homebound senior adults and their caregivers,” Powe continued.
“These services include hot meals delivered each weekday and frozen meals for the weekends, housekeeping and personal care, and medical transportation.”
“At the request of the Red Cross, we provided transportation to people of all ages, who were sheltering at the Landry Middle School. People were so grateful to be able to get out to a laundromat and a drug store – even for a meal at a fast-food restaurant – and we were delighted to help them out,” Powe added.
“We want all of our pre-Katrina clients to return to our centers, which are safe and secure, and to contact us as soon as they’re ready to receive home services. And we want to invite all senior adults in St. Charles to join us for all of our activities, including our Annual Fall Fest, which will be held at the Hahnville Center on Friday, October 28, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.; the Travel Club ‘Down Memory Lane Tour & Lunch’ on Wednesday, November 9; the Makers & Shakers “Wildlife & Fisheries Fishing Expedition on Wednesday, November 16; and the COA Caf/ “500 Card Club” on Wednesday, November 23. Details are available by calling the Council on Aging office at 783-6683,” Powe concluded.