Louisiana Aging Network Association hosts annual conference in Lake Charles

LAKE CHARLES, La. (KPLC) – Several workers with local Councils on Aging and insurance agencies were at day one of the Louisiana Aging Network Association Conference in Lake Charles today.

Debi Fleming, President of the Louisiana Aging Network Association, said during these conferences they hold training sessions for people who serve the elderly.

“This year I think pretty much all of us are having trouble with employees,” Fleming said. “We can’t seem to find drivers for our transportation service so that’s one of the sessions we’ll be talking about.”

Fleming said in the past, they have trained on things like what to do in the event of an active shooter to protect senior citizens and staff.

“We do some employee kind of training, how to motivate employees and how to keep them. We can’t pay them what they’re worth, there’s not enough money in the world to pay them what they’re worth but we try to find ways other ways to encourage them to do the work. They do it because they love the elderly,” Fleming said.

Around 75 people from across Louisiana registered for this year’s conference.

“We’re learning new techniques and activities, and ways to implement new programs and resources for both demographics of the aging that we serve,” Jacqueline Green, Executive Director of the Calcasieu Council on Aging, said.

In the next few days, there will be several sessions for various positions.

“What I love the most is that all of these ladies and gentlemen who help us run our council on aging facilities here get to network with others who are in the same field that they are, and it broadens their horizons they walk away with knowledge and understanding,” Green said.

The conference will continue through Thursday, Sept. 19.

For those interested in joining the Louisiana Aging Network Association, you can contact Debi Fleming via her email: debi@trcoa.com.

Copyright 2024 KPLC. All rights reserved.