RESEDA : New Day-Care Program Will Bridge Age Gap

Toddlers and Alzheimer’s patients will mingle in a new care center to open this fall in Reseda, part of an expansion of an adult day-care program run by the nonprofit Organization for the Needs of the Elderly (ONE).

ONE’s existing adult day-care program enrolls 15 people per day, many of whom suffer from stroke disabilities or Alzheimer’s disease and can’t be safely left home alone while relatives are at work, said Estelle Cooper, executive director.

The Valley Senior Service and Resource Center, now located in a partitioned room at 18255 Victory Blvd., has had a waiting list of dozens since its founding 12 years ago, said center director Judy Wolfe. Starting in September, it will be expanded to allow space for 35 people per day inside renovated space at a former city youth center at 17400 Victory Blvd., and next door will be a new West Valley Family YMCA child-care center.

“These are two generations that have traditionally been together,” Wolfe said. “For the elders, it will give them self-esteem because they can still nurture . . . and the children will get much more attention than they would get in an ordinary day care.”

The intergenerational day-care program, called the Mark Taper Joining Older and Younger (JOY) Program, was funded by a $1-million gift from the Los Angeles-based Mark Taper Foundation, which paid for the renovation. The building is owned by the Los Angeles city parks department, which has leased it to ONE and the YMCA. ONE is supported by city grants and by the $45-per-day fee families will pay to enroll elder relatives.

The YMCA will run the child-care center for about 70 children ages 6 weeks to school age in a building next door to the day-care center for the elderly. Children will be brought over to visit the elders in small, supervised groups, said Wolfe. The two groups will be encouraged to interact, garden and do crafts together.

For information about the YMCA child-care program, call 345-7393. For information about the day-care program for the elderly, call 705-2345.