City adds Social Service Component

At a special meeting held December 31, the Apalachicola Board of City Commissioners signed a contract with the Area Agency on Aging to take over as the lead agency for senior services in Franklin County commencing with the New Year.

The Area Agency on Aging will now make available to the City of Apalachicola approximately $480K per year to provide in-home services, lunches, and Meals on Wheels to the county’s senior population.

Elder Care Services, Inc. once served Franklin County seniors prior to their departure from the county on December 31, 2009. Dr. James Croteau, President, and CEO of Elder Care made it known to city officials during the latter part of last year the agency’s plan to leave the county.

However, while here, over the past year Elder Care provided 32,054 Meals on Wheels to 100 homebound seniors, 2,824 congregate meals at 2 sites, 3,260 trips to congregate sites, grocery shopping and other essential errands and 6,000 hours of in-home services, such as home making, personal care, and care management to 240 individuals.

With the move, city officials have effectively added a social service component to the operation of city government, something literally unheard in small communities.

During the transition, senior activities and congregate meals will operate out of the 6th Street recreation center until somewhere around mid-2011.

At that time, the renovation of the 81-year-old Holy Family School into a dedicated place for seniors using the $1.5 million dollar grant from the Florida Department of Elder Affairs should be complete and ready for use.