“What I understand is that it was a significant drop,” said Kalcec.When the county started serving frozen meals – before the program shifted to the city – participation dropped, said Community Services Director Brian Yanez, but grant funding is enabling the menu to be supplemented with salads and other fresh items.Krause asked if the center had received feedback on the meal program, and Councilman Gabino Aguirre inquired about meal costs.Although there is a suggested anonymous donation of $2.25, a senior is never turned away, said Yanez. Two-thirds of meal participants are female, said Kalcec.Aguirre suggested that the center explore partnerships with gyms or spas for wider exercise opportunities, and Mayor Rick Cook urged more outreach about the meal program.Yanez noted that centers overall are trying to get away from the senior brand. “If they’re 58 or so they don’t want to associate with seniors, so some are called active adult centers. It’s been a challenge” to get baby boomers interested in programs.
Services beefed up at Senior Center, but lunch program participation down
April 26, 2006
Santa Paula City Council
Services were beefed up once the city took over the Senior Nutrition Program, but attendance is down, according to the report presented to the City Council at the April 3 meeting.
By Peggy KellySanta Paula TimesServices were beefed up once the city took over the Senior Nutrition Program, but attendance is down, according to the report presented to the City Council at the April 3 meeting. Senior Coordinator Michelle Kalcec told the Council that the Senior Center operates through the Community Services Department on a half-time basis.“We collaborate with many nonprofits to provide a variety of programs,” as well as having a Commission on Aging Advisory Board appointed by the Council. The Senior Nutrition Program is serving more than 300 meals a month, and in January over 750 hot meals were distributed at the center and through Meals on Wheels.Other senior activities and services include a recent disaster preparedness forum, where seniors were encouraged to add their names to a registry for reference during an emergency. “We work and will continue to work with the Department of Public Health” on providing flu shots, and the center has a regularly updated senior resource listing.Kalcec said that only a “fraction” of Santa Paula seniors take part in the lunch program, and more should be involved in other center programs and services. Goals for 2006 include doubling the number of Senior Nutrition Lunch diners, strengthening outreach to the Spanish speaking community, offering more activities, services and special events, and raising awareness of the Senior Center and its programs in general.“We strive to be a place that is welcoming to our seniors,” where they can socialize and take part in the activities geared to their interests, noted Kalcec.“In terms of the Senior Nutrition Program, I was pretty shocked to see how low the participation is,” said Councilwoman Mary Ann Krause, who asked how successful the program was under county operation before the city took over and “went to frozen meals.”
