The Bogalusa chapter of AARP plans to recognize its partnership with Southeast Louisiana Legal Services (SLLS), at the October monthly meeting scheduled for Thursday at 3 p.m. at the Bogalusa Council on Aging building. The meeting was rescheduled from the group’s regular meeting date last week, because of the Washington Parish Free Fair.

In the partnership with Louisiana AARP and Bogalusa AARP, SLLS provides free successions to low-income senior citizens to ensure the senior citizens retain ownership of their homes, preserve ownership by heirs and maintain the right to Aging in Place. Moreover, it’s a concrete way to promote homeownership wealth to be handed down from generation to generation, said Emma Dixon, president AARP Bogalusa Chapter 4032.

Specifically in Bogalusa we recognize there are many vacant lots and blighted properties because some families have not done and have been unable to afford successions. This means no one in the family takes responsibility for routine maintenance and paying the city and parish taxes. For this reason liens are placed on the properties, then later sold at tax sales and the family loses its home ownerhip investment made by parents and/or grandparents. And the investment is unable to be used as a family asset, as well as provide increased economic benefit to family owners. Unfortunately, the result is loss of wealth building asset of land and home ownership. Some experts report this practice contributes to a long term cycle of poverty. We are pleased several of our members and others in Bogalusa have had their successions done by SLLS, Dixon said.

Information and Education materials will also be provided by Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center including “Breast Cancer — Learn Your Risk and Get Screened,” in recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Breast Cancer Screenings will be available on Wednesday, Oct. 25, from 9-11 a.m. and noon-2 p.m. at Nielsen’s Pharmacy, located at 1619 Columbia St. For an appointment, call 888-616-4687.

Since the Medicare Annual Enrollment period is opening soon, Nancy Agnelly from People’s Health will be in attendance to provide information on the free info kits and guides “Securing Today and Tomorrow, Medicare, and Eight Things You Need to Know About Medicare.” The AARP meeting is open to all members and guests.