Los Angeles County-Seniors’ survey of unmet needs is coming to an end January 31, 2007. Senior citizens aged 60 and over, will have the rest of January to complete the L.A. County Seniors Count! survey and be counted. Advocates such as the Los Angeles County Area Agency on Aging Advisory Council and the Los Angeles County Commission on Aging are urging seniors to start the New Year right by not missing the opportunity to have input in the countywide needs assessment of seniors’ unmet needs.
"About 12,000 have responded, but there are 1.3 million seniors aged 60 and over in Los Angeles City and County-our goal is to receive at least 20, 000," said Commissioner Bernard Weintraub, Chairman of the L.A. County Seniors Count! Needs Assessment project.
The City and County Area Agencies on Aging receive federal and State funds to provide services to those aged 60 and over in Los Angeles County and the services are, for the most part, of no cost to seniors. Services that are provided with these funds include in-home services, case management, nutrition counseling, congregated meals, home-delivered meals, legal services, employment services, and information and assistance. In order to determine the best way to allocate these resources, the area agency must know which services are of greatest need to the seniors they are serving. The results of the survey will have an impact on the type and degree of services to be offered in the future.
Senior Centers and Aging service providers are being asked to help get the word out to seniors that this is their last chance to participate through January 31, 2007 to have their "voices heard" and their views incorporated into the delivery of services they are eligible to receive. "We cannot plan services in a vacuum; we need to know directly from the seniors, from all segments of the community, what they desire so that we can prepare for the future," said Banks, Director, Community and Senior Services/Area Agency on Aging.
Seniors may complete the survey on-line in English or Spanish at
www.ladcss.org
at home, at the local public library and many senior centers. For surveys and locations of senior centers, call 213-738-2600 and leave a message with your name, address and number of surveys you are requesting.
Surveys are available and may be completed on-site at most local senior centers and public libraries throughout Los Angeles County. Mail the surveys directly to: Cheryl Scolaro, Community and Senior Services, 3175 W. 6th Street, Los Angeles, CA, 90020.
Go on-line at www.ladcss.org
for previous press releases and information concerning this project.