Seniors’ Programs in Brea, Buena Park Win Reprieves

Senior citizens’ programs in Brea and Buena Park that had been threatened with closing for lack of money won reprieves Tuesday when Orange County came up with an extra $110,000.

The Board of Supervisors approved 22 programs for more than $4 million in federal money to provide day care, home visits and health, legal and transportation assistance.

Two additional programs that would have received no money under an advisory panel’s recommendation were spared when county staff reported that $36,000 in interest on a federal trust account and $75,000 in federal revenue-sharing money turned back by the Orange County Transit District were available.

As a result, the Buena Park senior citizens’ day-care program operated by the private nonprofit Feedback Foundation was awarded $30,000. Another program, operated by the City of Brea to provide meals and transportation for homebound seniors, also received $30,000.

Other Allotments Increased

Allotments for other programs were increased with the extra money. The supervisors said the rest could be spent on new programs to serve parts of Orange County that have none.

“Oh, we’re thrilled, we’re just really thrilled over it,” said Trish Biddle, activity planner at the Buena Park day-care center.

Bobbie Young, director of the senior center in Buena Park, which also has nutrition programs run by Project TLC, echoed Biddle’s comments. “Are we happy over here today!”

Last week several people using the Buena Park center pleaded with the supervisors not to cut off the money. The advisory panel had suggested that those seniors could be served by other programs.

Dolores Henry said then that the center was “the only thing we’ve got to look forward to.” If it closed, she said, she would have to go to a home. “And I don’t want to go to a home. I want to keep going to the senior citizens’ (center).”

‘Devastating to Seniors’

On Tuesday, Ralph B. Clark, chairman of the Board of Supervisors, said, “Few things would be more devastating to a senior than forced separation from the ones they love simply because these programs are not available.”

Other supervisors criticized the Transit District for not handing back all the $375,000 in revenue-sharing funds it received for the current fiscal year but has not spent.

Supervisor Bruce Nestande said Transit District officials are “totally lacking in consideration of the overall needs of the senior population in Orange County” by insisting on hanging on to the money to subsidize bus fares for the elderly.