26/Jun/2008
Council on Aging Serving Zachary’s Senior Citizens
By Madeline Casey
“Everyone is the age of their heart.” ~ Guatemalan proverb
This old proverb describes the work of the East Baton Rouge Parish Council on Aging quite well. The Zachary Senior Center, a branch of the EBR/COA located off Rollins Road, keeps seniors young because it is an organization that is young at heart!
At the Zachary Senior Center, seniors gather daily to share food, fun and friendship, according to EBR/COA executive director Johnny Dykes. The Senior Center invites anyone who is at least 60 years young to gather and share a hot meal on weekdays.
Center activities include Bible studies, crafts, bingo and exercise classes. SeniorNet computer classes provide technological training. The centers are also the local headquarters for Senior Olympics.
Meals on Wheels
The Zachary Senior Center also organizes “Meals on Wheels,” which provides daily home delivery of hot meals. There are also “purchased meals” that are nutritional frozen dinners that can be delivered in bulk to those who are unable to prepare meals for themselves.
Educational seminars and health screening clinics are also available at the senior centers. The Personal Care/Homemaker program provides trained caregivers who offer in-home care to medically dependent seniors for an hourly wage. They do housecleaning, laundry, meal preparation, errands, grooming and respite care.
The Family Care Giver Support program makes assistance available to those taking care of someone more than 60 years old or anyone more than 60-years-old who is caring for a child.
Program Funding
Dykes explained that some of the programs are federally funded and some run on city/parish funds.
“Four programs are federally funded by the Older Americans Act,” Dykes said. These are the Nutrition Program, Personal Care/Homemaker Program, Family Caregiver Support and Wellness Programs/Trips.
The Council on Aging started about 35 years ago, Dykes said. The EBR/COA was actually developed by the City/Parish Council, but along the way the federal government began funding Meals on Wheels, Family Caregiver Support and the Wellness Program.
City/parish dollars still supplement the federal funds to provide other services for the community, Dykes said. The health screenings, exercise classes, SeniorNet computer classes and Senior Olympics are EBR/COA city-sponsored programs.
A Caring Family
Reulet said the participants volunteer to joyfully work together. Their combined efforts fit like pieces of a puzzle and they have become members of a caring family.
The long list of exciting available programs has led Reulet to hold a different view of the Senior Community Center.
“We’re a club, not just a Senior Center,” Reulet said.
Each center hosts a monthly theme party. Examples of these parties include traditional Thanksgiving and Christmas parties, a summer luau and a tailgating party during football season. Members also celebrate each others’ birthdays.
“You don’t dare miss a big party!” said June Dow, a Southeast Center member.
June and her husband, Shelton Dow, have been regular members for more than eight months. They were referred to the center by their physical therapist, and the experience has been more than they could have hoped for.
“It’s like family. There is a special bond between the people here,” explained June.
Zachary Center Location and Activities
Zachary Senior Center
5748 Rollins Road
(225) 654-1911
Exercise-10:30 a.m.
Lunch-11:00 a.m.
Scripture-11:45 a.m.
Sewing-1:00 p.m.
Baker Senior Center
3334 Jefferson
(225) 774-7846
Chaneyville Senior Center
13211 Jackson Road
(225) 654-3309
New Light Baptist Church Center
650 Blount Road
(225) 778-1868
By Madeline Casey
“Everyone is the age of their heart.” ~ Guatemalan proverb
This old proverb describes the work of the East Baton Rouge Parish Council on Aging quite well. The Zachary Senior Center, a branch of the EBR/COA located off Rollins Road, keeps seniors young because it is an organization that is young at heart!
At the Zachary Senior Center, seniors gather daily to share food, fun and friendship, according to EBR/COA executive director Johnny Dykes. The Senior Center invites anyone who is at least 60 years young to gather and share a hot meal on weekdays.
Center activities include Bible studies, crafts, bingo and exercise classes. SeniorNet computer classes provide technological training. The centers are also the local headquarters for Senior Olympics.
Meals on Wheels
The Zachary Senior Center also organizes “Meals on Wheels,” which provides daily home delivery of hot meals. There are also “purchased meals” that are nutritional frozen dinners that can be delivered in bulk to those who are unable to prepare meals for themselves.
Educational seminars and health screening clinics are also available at the senior centers. The Personal Care/Homemaker program provides trained caregivers who offer in-home care to medically dependent seniors for an hourly wage. They do housecleaning, laundry, meal preparation, errands, grooming and respite care.
The Family Care Giver Support program makes assistance available to those taking care of someone more than 60 years old or anyone more than 60-years-old who is caring for a child.
Program Funding
Dykes explained that some of the programs are federally funded and some run on city/parish funds.
“Four programs are federally funded by the Older Americans Act,” Dykes said. These are the Nutrition Program, Personal Care/Homemaker Program, Family Caregiver Support and Wellness Programs/Trips.
The Council on Aging started about 35 years ago, Dykes said. The EBR/COA was actually developed by the City/Parish Council, but along the way the federal government began funding Meals on Wheels, Family Caregiver Support and the Wellness Program.
City/parish dollars still supplement the federal funds to provide other services for the community, Dykes said. The health screenings, exercise classes, SeniorNet computer classes and Senior Olympics are EBR/COA city-sponsored programs.
A Caring Family
Reulet said the participants volunteer to joyfully work together. Their combined efforts fit like pieces of a puzzle and they have become members of a caring family.
The long list of exciting available programs has led Reulet to hold a different view of the Senior Community Center.
“We’re a club, not just a Senior Center,” Reulet said.
Each center hosts a monthly theme party. Examples of these parties include traditional Thanksgiving and Christmas parties, a summer luau and a tailgating party during football season. Members also celebrate each others’ birthdays.
“You don’t dare miss a big party!” said June Dow, a Southeast Center member.
June and her husband, Shelton Dow, have been regular members for more than eight months. They were referred to the center by their physical therapist, and the experience has been more than they could have hoped for.
“It’s like family. There is a special bond between the people here,” explained June.
Zachary Center Location and Activities
Zachary Senior Center
5748 Rollins Road
(225) 654-1911
Exercise-10:30 a.m.
Lunch-11:00 a.m.
Scripture-11:45 a.m.
Sewing-1:00 p.m.
Baker Senior Center
3334 Jefferson
(225) 774-7846
Chaneyville Senior Center
13211 Jackson Road
(225) 654-3309
New Light Baptist Church Center
650 Blount Road
(225) 778-1868
