PORT ST. LUCIE, South Florida (Port St. Lucie Tribune), May 29, 2005:
The Treasure Coast's senior citizens may soon have a "one-stop shop" to get medical attention and socialize with others under a proposed plan from area social service agencies.
Treasure Coast Hospices and the Council on Aging want to use 15,000 to 20,000 square feet in the old Kmart building in Eastport Plaza on U.S. 1 for the program.
Plans include an adult day care center with medical professionals on hand to treat senior patients, said Louis Benson, chief executive officer of Treasure Coast Hospices.
Plans would be submitted to the Port St. Lucie Planning & Zoning department next week, he added.
"It's a one-stop shop kind of thing," Benson said. "It's more than just a day care."
But, the program could suffer a serious setback if Gov. Jeb Bush cuts it from the state budget today.
TaxWatch, a nonprofit budget watchdog group, recommended Bush cut $973,000 in funding for the program last week.
Benson said if Bush does veto money for the project it would not kill the plan, but it would make it more difficult to fund startup costs.
By Sarah Myrick
Copyright © 2005, South Florida Sun-Sentinel
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