Los Gatos Weekly-Times

Letters

Network provides senior safety net

In response to the article about the threatened cutback in senior services in the June 10 issue of the Los Gatos Weekly-Times, we would like to point out several omissions and inaccuracies.

The Adult and Child Guidance Center's senior drop-in center will not be closing; the ACGC case manager resigned in favor of a new position and was not "cut loose." A new case manager was immediately hired; an ACGC case manager will continue to be in the community on a daily basis but will only be in the drop-in center once a week; there is a network of service providers to furnish a safety net for senior needs.

While there is no central senior center in Los Gatos, the town supports and houses several senior-oriented programs in addition to ACGC's drop-in center:

* The Los Gatos Recreation Department's Senior Program holds weekly card and table games, talks, services relevant to seniors, classes, and field trips. 354-2360 (Wednesdays only);

* The Live Oak Senior Nutrition Program, provides daily hot meals, socialization, and educational programs. 354-0707;

* The Health Place is a training program through San Jose State University that provides medical services to home-bound seniors. 924-6506;

* Live Oak Adult Day Services serves frail disabled seniors and provides respite for caregivers. 354-4782.

Because of the multiple programs serving seniors in the Los Gatos community, a Senior Consortium has [just] been developed from the above service providers, also including the Jewish Community Center, 358-3636, to give the widest safety net possible to identify problems before they reach crisis stage. All of these senior providers know how to direct people in the community to resources, including case management services.

The Senior Consortium has been meeting with the Los Gatos community services director to assist in the drop-in center transition from ACGC to the town.

Please contact one of the above providers if you have questions. The best way for seniors to shape what happens with their programs is to be involved.

Deborah Kranefuss
Live Oak Senior Nutrition
Lynnette Vega
Los Gatos Senior Program, Recreation Dept.

ACGC president Ann Webster told our reporter the agency would be cutting back from two to one case managers because the agency "could not afford to replace" the case manager who left.--Editor

There are lots of services for seniors

For about the last 1 1/2 years, I have worked for Adult and Child Guidance Center (ACGC) as the coordinator of the senior drop-in center.

At this time there are a number of services being provided at and near the senior drop-in center. There are a number of classes, field trips and card clubs offered through the town recreation department. The Live Oak Nutrition Center has been offering hot noontime meals and socialization five days a week since 1974. San Jose State University sponsors a nurse training program, called the Health Place, which assists home-bound seniors with minor medical needs. We at the drop-in center sponsor a walking group, a weekly bingo game, and a number of services including case management, health insurance counseling, and home owners/renter's assistance. Although ACGC will no longer have an office in Los Gatos, we are working closely with the town, volunteers and other senior service providers to make sure the transition to the town is as smooth and painless as possible.

ACGC will continue to provide case management services to the frail elderly of Los Gatos as they have for a number of years. A case manager will continue to visit frail seniors in their homes on a daily basis and will be at the drop-in center at least once a week for prevention work with well seniors. The primary change for the seniors of Los Gatos will be that the case manager will no longer have an office based in Los Gatos.

Please call me at the drop-in center at 354-1514 before the end of June if you have questions.

Kris Jensen
Coordinator, Los Gatos Senior Drop-In Center

Three-community village did it!

"It takes a village to raise a child," and last week we came together from three towns as a community to pass Measure B, funding renovations and ensuring the continued excellence of our Los Gatos and Saratoga high schools.

We owe a debt of thanks to the tireless efforts of many volunteers, but especially Cindy Ruby and Joan Henricks, who co-chaired the campaign committee, as well as our school superintendent and school board members, who provided visible energy and leadership. There are hundreds of others who gave a few, or many, hours to the tasks of addressing envelopes, data entry, walking precincts, raising funds and making telephone calls.

On election day, many of us spent the day calling people and urging them to vote. Thanks to all of those we called many times, who may have felt harassed, because in the end we came together and through Measure B we will continue a legacy of greatness for our community.

Barry Posner
Monte Sereno

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