The Bossier Parish Council on Aging is offering the federally-funded Community Living Program in partnership with the Northwest Louisiana Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) to assist individuals who are at risk of nursing home placement stay independent, announced the Governor’s Office of Elderly Affairs Director Dr. Jay Bulot.

The program targets older adults, adults with physical disabilities, adults with Alzheimer’s or related dementias and their caregivers.

Dr. Bulot said the state program, titled “Louisiana Answers…for Living at Home”, will serve Caddo, Bossier, Webster, Claiborne, Bienville, Red River, Natchitoches, Sabine, and Desoto Parishes.

“We provide community living solutions to seniors and disabled adults who do not qualify for Medicaid. We help them remain independent and find more options for their care,” said Northwest Louisiana ADRC Executive Director Mary Alice Rountree. “When someone is struggling, they need to call us.”

According to Ms. Rountree, the pilot program will support 119 individuals, though she estimates more than 76,000 older adults need help in the area.

“We offer a seamless information, assistance, referral and follow up process,” said Mary Anne Rankin, Bossier Parish COA Executive Director. “Just make the call. We’ll do the rest.”

Interested individuals should call (318) 741-8302 or the Caddo ADRC (800) 793-1198.

The program also hopes to help educate caregivers of older adults with Alzheimer’s or related dementias learn some everyday skills to enhance the good work they are already providing for their loved one, Ms. Rountree said.

State Representative Patricia Smith, for example, found she needed to enroll her mother, who is 95 years old and blind, in an adult-day care program so she and her husband could continue to work full-time. Representative Smith encouraged caregivers and adults to use the program. “We all want our loved ones to live at home but they often face risks to their independence and safety,” she said.

The individual seeking help should not qualify for, but be close to Medicaid eligibility, said Ms. Rountree. For more information, call Louisiana Answers---for Living at Home directly at (800) 793-1198.

The Governor’s Office of Elderly Affairs operates nine Aging and Disability Resource Centers in Louisiana. Find more information about this program at www.LouisianaAnswers.com. The Community Living Program is a federally-funded service with limited resources. Individuals will be helped on a first-come, first-served basis.

Call 1-800-793-1198 for more information. Anyone can call, but we especially want to hear from seniors who are depleting their savings trying to stay independent. We're free and we listen. We also help caregivers, especially those helping individuals with Alzheimer's. We provide information, you make the decision.

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