The town is looking to revitalize senior programs, which is why the Los Gatos Senior Services Committee is conducting a survey that asks residents who are over 60 what types of programs should be offered in town.
“We lost a lot of senior services when Covid hit and we discovered we weren’t investing in our seniors,” Mayor Rob Rennie said. “Basically, our senior program was decimated by Covid.”
Many senior services are offered through LGS Recreation’s 55 Plus Program but the rec department lost much of its income stream during the pandemic, Rennie said.
Another program, the Live Oak Senior Nutrition Center’s lunch program, proved vital to low income seniors during the pandemic, with the center serving roughly 100 meals per day to seniors.
Question is: what else is needed? And what do people want?
The 12-member senior services committee hopes the survey will answer those and other questions.
The survey starts by asking senior residents’ views on the town in general, then narrows to specific issues and questions that relate to seniors in particular. For example, seniors are asked to give their views on the ease of using public transportation in Los Gatos and the availability of affordable quality housing and long-term care.
It also explores senior challenges, including having enough money to meet daily expenses, pay property taxes, not being able to drive anymore and becoming lonely or depressed.
The survey results will establish a framework for the development of a “long-term strategic plan for senior services,” a promotional flier says.
“We’re trying to get the word out to as many older adults in Los Gatos as possible to complete the survey,” Senior Services Committee Vice Chair Maureen Heath said in an email. “I’m 67 and I’m hoping that by the time I’m 75 or 80 there’s a place for older adults to go and socialize. I have lived in Los Gatos for over 20 years and am excited about the possibility of a robust program of services for older adults. I live downtown and I think it would be really cool if someday I could walk to a modern center for older adults and engage in a robust discussion on current events and stay for lunch.”
The Adult Recreation Center’s multipurpose room often serves as a social venue for seniors, with Wednesday game days and other activities being offered there. But most Los Gatos Civic Center buildings date to the 1960s, so some committee members have floated the idea of building a new facility.
Rennie says it’s more likely the current center would be remodeled.
“As soon as the ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) funds are gone we’re going to have a really tight budget,” the mayor said. “We did commit $500,000 to re-energizing senior programs this year, with $200,000 going to KCAT for a senior film-making program.”
KCAT TV is Los Gatos’ community access channel. Longtime resident Joni Russell was recently hired to launch “The Producers,” which is a volunteer program for older adults. Participants will create content geared to seniors, including local news and event programs, and be trained to run cameras.
So, it’s hoped KCAT will help fill some of the need for improved senior services.
The 2020 U.S. Census shows there are approximately 6,974 seniors 65 and older living in town. That represents 20.8 percent of the population.
Previously, the survey was randomly distributed to 2,700 older residents “but now we want everyone over 60 to take it,” Heath said.
The deadline to complete the survey is March 15. It takes about 15 minutes to complete and is online at polco.us/casoalosgatos2022open.
