Council on Aging, Inc., Serving St. Clair County

The Council on Aging, Inc., serving St. Clair County is a private non-profit, non-sectarian, non political organization which primarily co-ordinates programs that promote and safeguard the independence and well-being of the senior citizens (persons sixty years of age and older) of St. Clair County.

Those programs and services include:

Information and Referral - When someone calls any of the four multi-purpose senior centers with a question regarding what is available to help them or a loved one, they will be put in touch with the center’s Information and Referral staff person.  These staff members have access to information and telephone numbers for a variety of services, agencies, and businesses, which assist senior citizens.

Resource Advocates assist seniors and their families by providing information and helping to line-up services and programs, which allow senior citizens to maintain their independence.  Resource Advocates assess the senior’s needs and help to meet those needs through a variety of community resources.

Personal Care workers under the plan of direction set up by CoA’s licensed practical nurse provide seniors with assistance with their daily activities of living such as bathing, dressing, transferring, etc.

Homemakers help you by doing light housekeeping, laundry, and grocery shopping.

Chore workers handle the larger cleaning jobs around the home.  They do carpet shampooing, wall washing, window washing, replace storms and screens, as well as basement, garage and yard clean-ups. 

 
Home Repair service does minor electrical, plumbing and carpentry repairs around a senior’s home.  They can install safety devices and also construct wheel chair ramps.  They cannot do work that would require a licensed contractor.

Benevolent Prescription Drug Assistance Program may enable low-income seniors to receive free prescription drugs from the major pharmaceutical companies. Enrolled physicians may refer medically indigent patients 60 or over to CoA’s trained volunteers for help with enrollment in benevolent pharmaceutical programs offered by the major drug companies.

Senior Nutrition – Congregate Meals - Monday through Friday, seniors ages 60+ throughout St. Clair County can partake of a hot meal served at one of the seven congregate meal sites. Home delivered meals are available for seniors 60 and over who are homebound, Monday through Thursday, home delivered drivers not only brighten their day, but also provide them with a hot nutritious lunch and frozen meals are delivered at the end of the week for Friday and the weekend. A month’s supply of Liquid Ensure product is also available for delivery, but requires a doctor’s prescription, and the clients will receive statements for the suggested donation amount for the product after delivery.

Starpath Adult Day Service provides supervised activities, companionship, exercise, and mental stimulation for seniors who have become the victims of stroke, early Alzheimer’s and dementia.  Clients can come every day of the week, or any portion of it that they require.  Care providers can use Starpath as a place to leave a loved one once a week as they do their shopping and errands, or as a place where mom and/or dad can stay while a care provider goes to work.

Foster Grandparent Program Volunteers serve from 15 to 20 hours per week at contract sites, under the supervision of a teacher or qualified professional.  In return for their service, they receive a modest stipend, one meal per day, an annual physical, and assistance with transportation to and from their site.  After meeting the income criteria for eligibility, each volunteer is provided with 40 hours of pre-service training prior to placement.

Senior Centers’ activities are open to those 60 and over throughout the county.  They afford you the opportunity to learn new skills and awaken talents you never knew you had!  Recreational activities abound at all of the CoA senior centers.  The socialization, which goes on during these activities, is a side benefit.  In the pages of the CoA newsletter, “Senior Happenings”, you can find listings of golf, bowling, swimming, exercise activities, music groups, cards, bingo, crafts, walking groups, choral groups, dance classes, quilting classes, and many other activities offered on a regular basis each week at the area senior centers.  In addition, on each of the calendars you will find listed the special programs and activities being offered at that particular center that month. If you glance through the daily and special programs being offered you will find a number of health related offerings and a number of educational programs, to help bring current, state-of-the-art information to you from experts on the topics.

Transportation service is available Monday through Friday from 8:30am until 4:30pm.  24-hour or more notice is preferred to schedule a ride.  Transportation is prioritized with medical appointments given first priority for service followed by requests for transportation for shopping, senior center visits, business, private or public agencies appointments, and visiting.  Due to the multitude of requests received for this service, CoA limits individuals to two return trips per week, per individual, with more trips scheduled if space and time permit.