Vidalia &8212; The state of Louisiana offers a sitter service and medical transportation for the disabled in Concordia Parish.

The Riding With Angels Transportation Service and the Angels Healthcare Sitter Service are Medicaid funded programs offering care to disabled persons.

Transportation Supervisor of Riding with Angels, Shirley Allen said the program provides a sense of security for the disabled people Concordia, Tensas and Catahoula parishes.

&8220;This service helps them get to their doctor&8217;s appointments without having to worry about money or driving themselves,&8221; Allen said.

Riding with Angels offers anyone with a Medicaid card, transportation services for non-emergency related appointments from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, Allen said.

&8220;We also will take dialysis patients to get treatment earlier than 8 a.m., and on Saturdays if they need it,&8221; Allen said.

Education Coordinator for Angel&8217;s Healthcare Sitter Service, Vivian Dishmon said the sitter service provides her clients&8217; freedom and comfort.

&8220;I believe there is a need in our state to keep disabled people in their homes who would otherwise have to be institutionalized,&8221; Dishmon said.

Dishmon said the sitter service offers long term patient care to clients who need help with personal care like grooming, shopping, light house keeping and assisting with activities of daily living that they are unable to complete themselves.

Dishmon also said the sitter service will work with patient&8217;s doctors to validate the need for the service and devise a plan of care that is specifically tailored to each individual.

Dishmon said currently there are 13 or 14 clients in the Concordia Parish office and the state employed 26 sitters for the Vidalia office.

Maude Reed, 81, of Ferriday said she appreciates the care the sitter service and especially her Patient Care Assistant, Felicia Williams provides.

&8220;I really enjoy her company and she is always there for me to see that I&8217;m cleaned, well fed and well rested,&8221; Reed said.

Williams comes to Reed&8217;s apartment at Ferriday Place II Senior Retirement Complex every day from 8 a.m. to 4:15 p.m., to feed her breakfast, get her clothes ready, participate with her in daily activities and sit with her during her nap.

&8220;I enjoy my job at Angels,&8221; Williams said. &8220;Mrs. Reed is good company and I enjoy the staff I work for.&8221;

For more information about Riding with Angels or Angels Healthcare Sitter Service contact Shirley Allen or Vivian Dishmon at (318) 336-1251.