SENIOR FACILITIES AND PROGRAMS

By Tom Brault

We need to prepare for Baby Boomers' "coming of age"

Like I keep saying on so many issues within our City, we need to be thinking "big picture" and long-term. With the "Baby Boom" generation on the doorstep of their "golden years", the demand for senior services is going to skyrocket sooner than we may think. Our present facilities and programs are sure to be overwhelmed. We need to be planning now for a dramatic expansion of our services to seniors.

We need a second major senior center, more centrally located within the City and more easily accessible by public transportation so that its programs and offerings can be better utilized. The difficulty for seniors to get to the current center in its out-of-the-way location and the quality and range of programs provided are two key factors that should be looked at to enhance the ability of the City to serve its growing senior population. If the existing bus routes are not sufficient to transport our seniors to the Center(s), then we should research door to door transportation options, such are available in Vista, and/or providing some form of mobile services to seniors in smaller neighborhood centers or even in individual homes.

We should be more active in recruiting seniors into volunteer service and mentoring opportunities within the City, in our schools and throughout the community at large. The experience, wisdom and energy of our seniors is an incredibly valuable asset. We should seek out every opportunity to tap into that wealth of knowledge and energy. Seniors have a lot to offer us, and we as a community owe a lot to them.