AGING AGENCY WANTS SENIORS TO TAKE SURVEY.

Byline: CAROL ROCK Staff Writer

NEWHALL -- Santa Clarita has been named one of the most ``senior friendly'' communities in the nation, but the needs of its aging population are growing faster than some agencies can keep up.

So, as part of an effort to better serve the community, seniors across Los Angeles County are being asked to complete a survey from the county's Area Agency on Aging.

The survey will assess social, transportation, in-home services, housing, legal, health and caregiver needs of the region's 1.7 million residents who are 60 and older.

Last year, the agency already identified affordable housing as a glaring need, a sentiment echoed by many in the senior community.

Helen Zollo, who declined to say exactly how old she is, said the wait for affordable housing is too long for most seniors.

``There's never enough apartments. By the time you get to the top of the list, you're pushing up daisies,'' she said.

Other seniors also said more facilities are needed.

``The biggest need we have are bigger facilities,'' said Jerry Donnelly, 71. ``The senior population is growing, and one (senior center) just isn't enough.''

Transportation also is a growing issue.

``Transportation and housing,'' said Ginny Carter, 85, who works the front desk at the senior center and hears all the buzz. ``And the frustration that as you get older, you can't do all the things you could do before.''

Carter, who uses a walker and has limited mobility, receives in-home assistance from the county; a woman visits her every day to help with housekeeping or take her to the grocery store.

``When your license gets taken because you're too old, then transportation becomes a problem,'' said Lorna Ostroski, a volunteer who runs the trips and tours desk at the center.

The center contracts with three housing complexes to provide low- to median-income rents at facilities in Saugus, Castaic and Canyon Country. Together, the complexes have 614 apartments, and the waiting list is at least two years long.

Other complexes in the area have some apartments with rents adjusted for older adults, but the need has quickly outstripped availability.

Brad Berens, executive director of the Santa Clarita Senior Center, said he plans to get the county needs survey to as many of the center's 8,000 clients as he can.

It is the first time the county has taken a direct survey of seniors, relying in the past on public hearings to gather data.

``We do needs assessments all the time, and seniors are welcome to come to the meetings and comment,'' said Patricia Senette-Holt, who heads the Area Agency on Aging.

Senette-Holt said the county offers in-home personal care and homemaking services to seniors who are impaired or have low to moderate incomes.

Surveys will be available at the SCV Senior Center, 24900 Market St., Newhall, or online at www.ladcss.org.

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