Friday 29th March 2024

Care Connection for Aging Services’ senior centers and central office will remain closed to the public as they continue to provide home-delivered meals, pick-up meal service and telephone reassurance to homebound older adults.
According to the agency, these closures will remain in effect indefinitely in accordance with the President’s Coronavirus Guidelines for America. On Tuesday, Federal authorities issued a new advisory asking people to stay home unless they must go out for essential business; to practice social distancing; and to not congregate in groups of 10 or more until at least April 30.
The center will reopen as soon as they receive notification that it’s safe to do so. All centers are adjusting their meal delivery routes to decrease direct contact with clients. Most Care Managers are working remotely and using the telephone to stay in contact with clients.
Several of Care Connection’s 13 counties are under stay-at-home orders from their local governments.
“Each center will follow the federal guidelines. In case the state, county, or city government imposes more strict guidelines that last longer than the federal recommendations, centers will follow the directions of the local authorities,” said Care Connection Executive Director Diana Hoemann. “We will reopen as soon as we get notification that it’s safe to do so. All centers are adjusting their meal delivery routes to decrease direct contact with clients. Most Care Managers are working remotely and using the telephone to stay in contact with clients. Our health and wellness support staff members are looking for ways to give information to older adults – either via Facebook or www.goaging.org or by sending it to be hand delivered with meals.”
The agency has reduced its central office staff to three but still is fielding phone calls and getting messages to remote staff as soon as possible. The central office number is 1-800-748-7826.
Because only employees and delivery volunteers are allowed in centers, older adults must call ahead to pick up meals. The service is available to people 60 and older. Center staff will work on a case-by-case basis to meet the needs of clients.
The agency has canceled or suspended exercise classes, services such as tax preparation and in-person care management, in-person educational programs, in-center volunteer activities, and fundraisers.
To arrange a meal pickup or delivery, or to arrange telephone reassurance for you or a loved one, call your local senior center during regular hours or the central office 1-800-748-7826. The agency also is making regular updates on its website, goaging.org, the Care Connection for Aging Services Facebook Page, and its emailed newsletter. To subscribe to the newsletter, email kfair@goaging.org.
“Our priority continues to be the safety of our staff, volunteers, and clients as we provide services to the most vulnerable older adults,” Hoemann said.
Care Connection continues to share information from trusted partners such as the Missouri SMP, the state Department of Health and Senior Services, and the federal Centers for Disease Control. The Facebook page and goaging.org also will contain links to Internet sites that might provide entertainment, education and socialization online.
The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services has set up a hotline (877-435-8411) for possible Coronavirus reporting.
Care Connection for Aging Services is a non-profit area agency on aging that serves people 60 and older in 13 West Central Missouri counties, including Bates, Benton, Carroll, Cedar, Chariton, Henry, Hickory, Johnson, Lafayette, Pettis, Saline, St. Clair and Vernon.
Our locations:
Central Office, 106 W. Young, Warrensburg, 1-800-748-7826
BATES COUNTY:
Butler Senior Center, 611 W. Mill St., Butler, 660-679-5830
BENTON COUNTY:
Cole Camp Senior Center, 206 E. Junge, Cole Camp, 660-668-2352
Warsaw Senior Center/Harbor Village, 17571 N. Dam Access Road, Warsaw, 660-438-3300
CARROLL COUNTY:
Carroll County Care Connection, CCMH, 200 Lifecare Lane, Carrollton, 660-542-0399
CEDAR COUNTY:
El Dorado Springs Senior Center, 604 S. Forest, El Dorado Springs, 417-876-5574
Korth Center, 309 W. Englewood, Stockton, 417-276-5306
CHARITON COUNTY:
Salisbury Senior Center, 304 Broadway, Salisbury, 660-388-5431
HENRY COUNTY:
Clinton Senior Center, 970 E. Sedalia, Clinton, 660-885-3482
Windsor Senior Center, 201 S. Main, Windsor, 660-647-3224
HICKORY COUNTY:
McCarty Senior Center, 19482 US-54, Wheatland, 417-282-6100
JOHNSON COUNTY:
Holden Senior Center, 204. W. Second St., Holden, 816-732-5757
Warrensburg Senior Center, 445 E. Gay, Warrensburg, 660-747-2624
LAFAYETTE COUNTY:
Concordia Senior Center, 710 Main, Concordia, 660-463-7393
Higginsville Senior Center, 21st and Walnut, Higginsville, 660-584-7040
Margaret Gray Center, 811 C S. Business Highway 13, Lexington, 660-259-2025
Odessa Senior Center, 217 S. Second, Odessa, 816-633-4161
PETTIS COUNTY:
Sedalia Senior Center, 312 S. Washington, Sedalia, 660-826-0713
SALINE COUNTY:
Marshall Senior Center, Marshall, 660-886-9888
CLAIR COUNTY:
Rivers Crossing Life Center, 5215 Business Highway 13 NE, Osceola, 417-646-8292
VERNON COUNTY:
Neal Center, 301 N. Main, Nevada, 417-667-5847