Historical April 1991 article. Dates, prices, services and contacts describe the source period; current availability has not been established.
The following is the first of a series of articles that the Skinker DeBaliviere Community Council’s Social Services Committee will feature in the Times.
It is the intent of the committee to publicize services, and the agencies which provide them, that are available in and around our neighborhood. Despite a front page feature in the Times in December, 1989, the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis’ Urban West Senior Center located at 5370 Pershing continues to be a well kept secret in Skinker DeBaliviere.
The staff there are anxious to change that and so is the SDCC social service committee as Urban West provides a wealth of services and resources for senior citizens. Urban West offers recreational, informational and dining opportunities as well as social services to senior citizens throughout the St. Louis community, but primarily in the Central West End. Hot meals are served daily at the center for whatever contribution the diner can make. Meals are also delivered to homebound seniors.
In addition to meals, the center offers a nutrition program with training in food safety and medical and diet counseling.
In 1990, over 5,000 meals were served at the center, and over 7,000 were delivered to individuals unable to leave their homes.
The center also expanded its holiday meal program last year and served special dinners on Thanksgiving and Christmas. Urban West also provides: Transportation-Clients are taken shopping, to receive medical attention, or to access other community resources. On-site health screenings-Screenings are available for hypertension, diabetes. glaucoma, and hearing loss; flu shots are also available.
The center offers healthrelated educational programs addressing topics such as prescription medication, exercise and evaluating physicians. Medicare/Medicaid Assistance Program-Assistance in filing appeals and claims and in understanding the complicated guidelines of Supplemental Security Insurance is provided. Recreation-Arts and Crafts, games, sightseeing tours, sporting events, classes in Bible Study, exercise classes, theater and classes in bridge are some of the activities provided by the center.
The Urban West brochure describes the facility as “a place to enjoy yourself. Our purpose is to provide a setting where the mature individuals of the Central West End area can plan and select activities of their interest and/or need.” Urban West is open Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m. and is located on the first floor of the Branscombe apartment building at 5370 Pershing.
The center is operated by the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis.
For more information, call 361-0640.
Originally published in The Times of Skinker-DeBaliviere, April 1991.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Original source: SD_Times1991_04.pdf, printed page(s) 2; PDF page(s) 2.
