TAX FUND BENEFICIAL TO SENIORS

JACKSON -- Debbie Stockton's commitment to helping the elderly in Cape Girardeau County goes beyond the meals she delivers each day.

There have been days when Stockton arrived just in time to avert an accident; other times she has been able to rescue an elderly person who has fallen.

Stockton and Jackson Senior Center Administrator Dorothy Peetz are able to provide more services to Cape Girardeau County senior citizens because of money from a senior citizens service fund.

The senior citizens service fund tax was passed in April 1991. Cape Girardeau County has about 11,155 residents 60 years old and some 3,906 over 75. In Cape County the percentage of senior citizens at the poverty level is 15.3.

"Just being able to make daily stops and check in on some of these people have made a difference in their lives," said Stockton, who has delivered meals to senior citizens for over a year. The daily contact has enriched Stockton's life. "You get to know them all and develop friendships along the way, and that's always a plus," she said.

The money has given the Jackson Senior Citizens Center an additional $1,800 a year to apply to the cost of operating a van Stockton drives.

The Cape Girardeau Senior Center receives $14,399 for meals it serves senior citizens. There are 15 senior citizen programs funded by the tax. The Cape County Commission appointed seven directors to represent all areas of Cape Girardeau County. The directors serve without pay.

Stockton said by expanding meal delivery to Cape County the Jackson Senior Citizen Center is able to do a better job making people aware of the services it offers.

"Once we start talking to them, we realize they have other concerns that have nothing to do with meals," said Stockton. "It might be something as basic as how to turn on an air conditioner they aren't familiar with to finding out if there is someone available to help them do their taxes," she said.

The Apple Project at the Hoover Eldercare Center in Cape Girardeau offers a personal papers service. People 60 and older are able to get help on Medicaid and Medicare papers, insurance papers and tax forms.

Wanda Wyatt, a certified claims representative, helps 65 clients in Cape Girardeau County. The Senior Citizens Services Fund board recognized the need for senior citizens to get help on paperwork, said Cynthia Kothe, director of the Hoover Eldercare Apple Project and Eldercare Center.

"There are cases where a woman may be a widow who relied on her husband to take care of a lot of the paperwork," said Kothe. "Now she has to do all of that by herself. That can become overwhelming."

The Hoover Eldercare Center receives $34,243 from the Senior Citizens Services Fund for the Apple Project. The center also helps senior citizens find transportation to stores and provides transportation to and from the facility at 805 N. Sprigg each day. It receives an additional $29,200 for those services.

"The goal is to keep senior citizens in their homes and out of institutions," said Kothe.