Tough choices for new senior center Tough choices for new senior center (July 26, 2002)

Intergenerational center, modular structures lose council support Intergenerational center, modular structures lose council support (July 26, 2002)

By Bill D'Agostino

Responding to the wishes of senior center users, the city council appears to be leaning toward removing a child care and intergenerational center from plans for a new senior center.

The current center is to be vacated next year because it would be unsafe in the event of an earthquake.

A new building is expected to be built by the end of 2007, although no funding has yet been secured. At a study session Monday night, the city council explored options for the new center.

In a survey the city conducted at the senior center earlier this year, many seniors -- more than 60 percent of the center's users -- wanted no interaction between with children at the new facility. Hearing that feedback and having limited space for the new center, the council appeared to prefer a plan that would place a spot for a new child care center at a nearby location.

The building for the child care center would be owned by the city, but the center itself would be run by a child care provider.

On Monday, the council also seemed to favor entirely eliminating a city-sponsored intergenerational center, a cutting edge concept in child and senior care where seniors and kids would play and learn together at shared space.

The senior center survey did not describe what an intergenerational center was, nor did it explain that the program would be optional. Kids would not be running amok in the senior center, supporters of the program say.

Leaders of two Palo Alto-based nonprofits -- Avenidas, a senior services provider, and Palo Alto Community Child Care Center (PACCC) -- pitched the idea of an intergenerational center to the city earlier this year.

Those leaders were in attendance at the informal Monday meeting and were disappointed the council appeared to be moving away from the idea.

In additional to being a positive program, an intergenerational center would have eased that funding search for the new center, leaders of the nonprofits said. Grants would have opened up for such a new and innovative concept.

"Maybe it's a little too new for the community," said Council member Ralph Faravelli, who earlier supported the idea.

Another program, a senior day health program appeared to have council support. According to the survey, more than 85 percent of seniors favored that program, which would offer nursing, physical therapy and other services.

This news was received warmly by Avenidas President Lisa Hendrickson, who said that the need for senior health care centers will grow exponentially over the next few years, as baby boomers age into their senior years.

Senior health care centers stave off the need for sending seniors to nursing homes, according to Hendrickson.

Avenidas currently runs a senior health center at the Palo Alto Baptist Church but they are losing their lease on the site. About a third of the seniors who utilize the day health center are Mountain View residents.

In another change from an earlier draft of the plan, the council also appeared to be leaning towards using a leased building as a temporary replacement to the center. Earlier this year, they had considered temporary modular structures located on the same site.

The council will vote on the center at their next meeting on Aug. 6.