Caddo Council on the Aging

LIFE IN THE Long Run

BY ELLEN NICHOLSON

Baby Boomers. The Sandwich Generation. Generation. Many of the post-World War II babies who once struggled to simultane struggled to simultaneously care for their elderly ously care for their elderly parents and their schoolage children are now considered elderly themselves – at least age children are now considered elderly themselves – at least by census standards. by census standards. Currently at 22 percent, the segment of senior adults falling into the 60+ age bracket continues to increase. Decisions into the 60+ age bracket continues to increase. Decisions about Medicare, Social Security benefits and long-term care can be confusing at best, but it’s questions such as these that make the 50-year-old Caddo Council on Aging (CCoA) more make the 50-year-old Caddo Council on Aging (CCoA) more relevant than ever. And although often considered synon-relevant than ever. And although often considered synon ymous with their much-appreciated Meals on Wheels pro ymous with their much-appreciated Meals on Wheels program, the Council on Aging offers much more than a daily gram, the Council on Aging offers much more than a daily dose of nutrition to local seniors, according to Executive Di-dose of nutrition to local seniors, according to Executive Di rector Monica Wright. From a humble first-year budget of just $35,000, the Caddo From a humble first-year budget of just $35,000, the Caddo Council on Aging’s annual funding has grown to approximately $4 million in federal, state and parish dollars supple mately $4 million in federal, state and parish dollars supplemented with grants and donations. In additional to Wright mented with grants and donations. In additional to Wright and a modest number of paid staff, a strong volunteer base also makes meal deliveries, counseling, referrals and other programs possible. programs possible. That long list of programs and resources offered by the CCoA That long list of programs and resources offered by the CCoA meets seniors where they are – in their own neighborhoods, meets seniors where they are – in their own neighborhoods, often in their own homes, with what they need to make their often in their own homes, with what they need to make their lives better in the long run. “We have seniors’ best interests lives better in the long run. “We have seniors’ best interests in mind,” says Wright, who notes that while a percentage of in mind,” says Wright, who notes that while a percentage of the agency’s clients are physically challenged, others are still the agency’s clients are physically challenged, others are still healthy, vital, and actively seeking means to stay in their healthy, vital, and actively seeking means to stay in their homes and making their own decisions for as long as possible. homes and making their own decisions for as long as possible. The CCoA motto “We Can Help. Just Ask.” sums up their op The CCoA motto “We Can Help. Just Ask.” sums up their operation. A phone call to the organizations’ Buckner Square eration. A phone call to the organizations’ Buckner Square office can connect seniors and their families with these, office can connect seniors and their families with these, among other, programs. among other, programs.

• • In-home services that can assist with acquiring In-home services that can assist with acquiring

groceries, housekeeping and personal care. This groceries, housekeeping and personal care. This assistance can include monthly food boxes and vouchers assistance can include monthly food boxes and vouchers for fruit and vegetables through local, participating for fruit and vegetables through local, participating farmers markets. farmers markets.

• • Respite services that provide short-term, temporary Respite services that provide short-term, temporary relief for over-burdened caregivers who attend relief for over-burdened caregivers who attend

to home-bound seniors. to home-bound seniors. Standard informational Standard informational paperwork is required to obtain this service. paperwork is required to obtain this service.

• • Information and assistance on a plethora of seniorInformation and assistance on a plethora of senior-

living topics. Calling themselves the “Go To” source, living topics. Calling themselves the “Go To” source,

CCoA employees are in-the-know about other local CCoA employees are in-the-know about other local agencies and what they can offer as far as physical and agencies and what they can offer as far as physical and monetary assistance and other senior needs. monetary assistance and other senior needs.

• • The Ombudsman program providing advocates for The Ombudsman program providing advocates for

seniors in long-term care facilities. According to seniors in long-term care facilities. According to

Wright, the advocacy may involve interacting with care Wright, the advocacy may involve interacting with care facilities or the seniors’ own families as needed. facilities or the seniors’ own families as needed.

• • Meals on Wheels — perhaps the CCoA’s most widely Meals on Wheels — perhaps the CCoA’s most widely

known program. known program. Five meals per week are delivered to Five meals per week are delivered to homebound seniors who cannot shop and cook on their homebound seniors who cannot shop and cook on their own. An estimated 1,400 meals are served each month. own. An estimated 1,400 meals are served each month.

• • Senior Centers scattered throughout Shreveport and Senior Centers scattered throughout Shreveport and

Caddo Parish. These neighborhood centers offer safe, Caddo Parish. These neighborhood centers offer safe, heated/air-conditioned places for seniors to gather for heated/air-conditioned places for seniors to gather for fun, activities and social interaction. A meal similar to fun, activities and social interaction. A meal similar to those served to Meals on Wheels clients is available at those served to Meals on Wheels clients is available at most of these centers each day. most of these centers each day. • • Legal advice, counseling and representation. In some Legal advice, counseling and representation. In some situations, representation by an attorney or other situations, representation by an attorney or other attorney-supervised person can be secured to assist attorney-supervised person can be secured to assist seniors with legal matters. seniors with legal matters. The Covid-19 pandemic severely cut into the agency’s vol-The Covid-19 pandemic severely cut into the agency’s volunteer base, according to Wright, who notes the agency is unteer base, according to Wright, who notes the agency is actively recruiting individual, corporate and group volun-actively recruiting individual, corporate and group volunteers who have a heart for caring for the elderly. Volunteer teers who have a heart for caring for the elderly. Volunteer opportunities vary. For example, delivering Meals on Wheels opportunities vary. For example, delivering Meals on Wheels involves only about an hour each week. A company or group involves only about an hour each week. A company or group might take one day each week and rotate participants. might take one day each week and rotate participants.

How can you help? How can you help? A call to the A call to the Caddo Council on Aging offices Caddo Council on Aging offices at 318-676-7900 can put readers at 318-676-7900 can put readers in touch with staff members who in touch with staff members who can assist seniors and their fami-can assist seniors and their families with the Council’s resources as lies with the Council’s resources as well as opportunities to volunteer. well as opportunities to volunteer.