Orlove, Jensen to ask for committee to explore a town senior center
Fragmented services could be cause of underutilization
Should cart go before horse?
By Nathan R. Huff
According to local senior citizen Jack Orlove, creating a dedicated senior center may be one of those rare instances where it makes sense to put the cart before the horse--to create demand for expanded senior programs and services, an attractive facility may have to be provided first.
Orlove and former councilman Egon Jensen are asking the Town Council to create a committee of senior and other citizens to look at other town's senior services, investigate "past mistakes" and make recommendations on establishing a dedicated senior center in Los Gatos.
"The senior services in Los Gatos have always been very fragmented," Jensen said, referring to the patchwork of town, community and private senior-service providers. "My hope is that the town really takes a serious look at senior services and how we can improve them."
Los Gatos seniors, age 65 and older, compose 12 percent of the town's population, according to the 1990 census, and that number jumps to 23 percent when the minimum age is lowered to 55. But, despite the relatively large population of older residents, no single facility exists for senior services.
However, that doesn't mean there aren't services and programs for local seniors, according to Community Services Director Regina Falkner. The town's Neighborhood Center houses the senior drop-in center, which offers referral services to other programs and income tax assistance, among other things.
The Los Gatos-Saratoga Department of Community Education and Recreation, which offers various senior classes and programs, differs from most other recreation departments in that it is not operated by the town.
The department operates under a joint powers authority as part of the Los Gatos Union and Saratoga Union school districts and the Los Gatos-Saratoga Joint Union High School District. One result of this, Jensen said, is that Los Gatos seniors pay considerably more than seniors in other communities to take classes.
Seniors in Los Gatos also take advantage of the Live Oak Senior Nutritional Center and adult day-care services, various church programs, and some privately run programs.
But according to Orlove, services need to go beyond painting classes and referral programs to address the social and emotional needs of seniors. "It's a lot more meaningful if you can just drop in, 'b.s.,' and drink a cup of coffee," he said.
The current drop-in center at the Neighborhood Center doesn't have the inviting atmosphere to serve such a purpose, Orlove said. A facility run and used exclusively by seniors would be the best way to achieve the environment in which Jensen and Orlove say seniors feel comfortable.
Falkner, said however, that many of the programs, such as the weekly bingo games and the Happy Hoofers walking group, are social programs as much as anything else. "Our experience has been that people like to socialize around an activity," Falkner said. She added that it gets expensive providing a place "just for hanging out."
The town's primary fear, as expressed in previous reactions to the idea of a dedicated senior center, is that the facility would be underused. A history of failed senior programs and groups exists, and the building of a costly facility that might receive minimal use is a risk the town has not wanted to take.
Orlove believes the reason senior participation has been generally low is because services are so fragmented.
He said that to establish support for a center, community service groups, churches, and other organizations need to network and make a united effort on behalf of local seniors.
"This is a community project," said Orlove, a Kiwanis Club member. "Children of seniors benefit knowing their parents are having a good time."
To ensure participation, Orlove also said seniors need a first-class facility, like Saratoga's. "Content, quality of programs, and cost will determine utilization," he said.
Falkner said a myth exists that the town and her department are against a dedicated senior center. The Saratoga senior center was made possible by a private endowment, and operates on interest generated by the endowment, she said.
"We could do a fundraising campaign and see if we couldn't come up with the same sort of endowment," Falkner said. She added that a senior center could also be part of a new library, when and if it's built.
Orlove said the key to the success of any new senior center or program is senior control. "So long as we have no control over content," he said, "it's not going to be utilized."
Los Gatos, California Since 1881
