EDITORIAL : WHO WILL HELP THE ELDERLY?; HOME FOR ALZHEIMER'S PATIENTS NEEDS NEW LOCATION.

A neighborhood in Encino angry with the idea of life and death living next door won the fight to keep out a residential care facility for elderly Alzheimer's disease patients.

Freedom Gardens Densmore, located in a residential neighborhood in the 4900 block of Densmore Avenue, was put up for sale last week before it even opened its doors.

Intense pressure from neighbors drove a valuable and worthwhile facility to seek another solution and another neighborhood more receptive to the needs of the elderly.

Compassion lost this round. But the fight is far from over.

Some 3.3 million people in California, 10 percent of the population, are 65 and older. In 20 years, that number will double. The number of people over 80 will grow even faster.

Obviously, this is an issue that is not going away.

The Alzheimer's Association has found that seven out of 10 people with Alzheimer's live at home, taken care of by a spouse, adult child or paid caregiver.

But for many, the emotional, physical and financial burdens grow too great, and other arrangements must be found. Small group homes allow frail older people to stay in a homelike environment as long as possible, where studies show they retain independent living skills far longer than those living in larger, institutional settings.

The law exempts facilities that have six beds and under from having to undergo a local review. The reasoning was that neighborhoods such as the one in Encino would banish these small care homes from their block, fearing lowered property values and wishing to keep their residential areas free of commercial enterprise.

While we respect residents' right to have a say in development in their neighborhoods, we are dismayed that no elected leader has stepped forward offering a solution to this unfortunate dilemma.

When this issue was first reported, the Daily News received numerous letters supporting the care facility. Residents expressed support for administrator Debbie Garber and her partner, Gary Avery, who owns the property. Some invited the facility to relocate in their neighborhood.

We suspect that same empathy for the elderly resides in areas throughout the Valley. A venture that may not be welcome in one neighborhood might be the best thing to ever happen to another.

But it's going to take the offices of a City Council member to locate houses in accepting areas and help find an appropriate solution.

Why hasn't a council member come forward?

Since the Valley is carved up politically, it's too hard to find one elected leader willing to take on the cause.

It's an ironic twist.

In the middle of the debate about charter reform and redrawing council district boundaries, this is one of the few problems that could be addressed by a large, sprawling district.

We challenge the Valley's five council representatives to find a solution and offer the services of each one's 17-plus staff members to help find other locations.

This is one issue that we're all in together. When it's our turn to seek the same care, let's hope our society has found the best answer.

Stay tuned to learn which public official answers the call for help.