Annual Report 2011

SABINE COUNCIL ON AGING, INC.
ANNUAL REPORT
JUNE 23, 2011

What a busy year we at the Sabine Council on Aging have had! Much of the year was spent surveying our parish, reviewing our programs and developing a plan for the next four years of Council services. As soon as our plan was completed and sent to the Governor’s Office of Elderly Affairs (GOEA) for approval, we began the bid process, which allows a fair market approach to providing these services at the most reasonable cost possible. When the Procurement Plan was completed and off to GOEA for approval, it was time to review and revise the FY2011 Budget and then immediately prepare the FY2012 Budget using the plans and information provided in the Area Plan and Procurement Plan phase.

At the same time we were evaluating and planning, our dedicated staff continued to provide our clients with quality services and programs such as Home Delivered Meals, Congregate Meals, Homemaker Service, and Transportation. Our five Site Managers provided recreation, seminars, public education, exercise and other opportunities for social interaction for our seniors. Many new activities were added to our calendars in an effort to keep our seniors active and interested. Healthy living through healthy lifestyles is our ultimate goal. Keeping up with current information and technology has become a challenge and has become ever more important in today’s world. We at the Council on Aging strive to provide our clients with opportunities to stay abreast of these changes so that they may remain active and independent.

The most exciting new development we have made in the past year is the acquisition of property and the beginning of the planning phase of our Senior Housing Initiative. Plans are being developed and funds are being set aside to begin this new project very early in the 2012 fiscal year. I have visited many Senior Housing sites in the southern part of Louisiana and am very excited to bring this idea to our parish for our seniors. We have contracted with a consultant to provide guidance in this process and will soon have plans to share with our community.

Cleco and the Council on Aging have partnered once again and are in the midst of our annual fan drive. With temperatures soaring in the 100’s, these fans have helped many of our seniors stay more comfortable in their homes. We have given away 144 fans since June 1st and will continue to give free fans to seniors as long as there is a need.

The Sabine Council on Aging is also continuing to assist Catholic Charities with the Food for Seniors program in which qualifying seniors receive 80 pounds of food every other month. At present, we serve over 400 seniors with this program.

Some of the other programs we provide assistance with include Emergency Utility Assistance (11 seniors assisted), Emergency Food Bank (40 families served), Acadian on Call monitoring systems (83 seniors assisted) and Medical Equipment Loans (10 families helped). We also refer our seniors to Legal Services of North Louisiana for free legal services and the regional Aging and Disabilities Resource Center for help with Medicare questions and other issues beyond the scope of our agency.

The SCOA staff and volunteers have been very busy this year providing services and recreational opportunities for our seniors. So far during our 2011 fiscal year (July 1 through May 31) we have served the following:

Service Units Served Service Units Served

Congregate Meals 11,841 Home Delivered Meals 41,921
Information & Assistance 735 Recreation 14,486
Legal Assistance 52 Transportation GOEA 5,639
Wellness (Exercise/Health) 4,410 Transportation-Other 889
Caregiver Services 1,625 Homemaker Service 1,262

At this time I would like to say a special thanks to the following businesses, organizations and individuals for the great support they have given in helping with SCOA programs and activities. We are very fortunate at the Sabine Council on Aging for the tremendous support we have from our community.

Peoples State Bank United Way Rep. Frankie Howard
Sabine State Bank McBryde Realty Reverend Daniel Lowe & Family
City Bank & Trust Co. Cleco Sabine Parish Sheriff’s Dept.
Big Star Supermarket Wal-Mart Sabine Parish Detention Center
The Sabine Index Many Police Dept. Carroll Ellzey, Tax Assessor
KWLV Radio Station Carlos Morales Tammy Foster, Clerk of Court
The Rotary Club Rod Hopkins Thompson Home Health
C. J. Micheals Many Health Care Sew Crafty Quilters
Beta Sigma Phi Entergy Round the Bend Quilters
J. C. Ashford Jamison Hedges Gary Rigsby
Sabine Medical Center The Fair Board Judge & Mrs. Stephen Beasley
Advanced Technologies The Pilot Club Curves for Women
Allen Rivers Construction Nichols Dept Store LA Technical College-SVC

During the year, many Sabine Parish residents have donated time, money and items to help the Council and we truly appreciate their generosity. Special donations have been made in memory of loved ones, and these too are appreciated and will be used to further the programs and activities of the council as requested by the donors. We thank all of those whose efforts help us keep Sabine Parish seniors thriving. A special thank you goes to our Board of Directors and our Advisory Council members. You give us guidance, support and the oversight necessary to insure quality services for our seniors and our parish. I, personally, can’t thank you enough! Thanks also to the SCOA staff and volunteers whose dedication is remarkable and often makes the difference between an ordinary day and a great day in the lives of the seniors they serve.

Respectfully submitted,
Linda Rigsby, Executive Director
June 23, 2011