Countywide : Officials Deny Threat to Seniors Funding

County officials tried to quell the fears of senior citizens Tuesday in the wake of an Orange County Grand Jury report that created the impression that services for older residents face imminent cutbacks from pending state legislation.

The county’s Area Agency on Aging dispatched bulletins to 55 nutrition centers that serve an estimated 6,000 meals a day to senior citizens to inform clients that no funding reductions are on the horizon, said agency director Peggy Weatherspoon.

According to a 20-page grand jury report released Monday, two pending state bills could slash funding for senior citizen programs in Orange County by as much as $700,000 if they arepassed.

But Weatherspoon said that Gov. Pete Wilson vetoed those bills two years ago. And because of pressure from the county Board of Supervisors and local state legislators, the Area Agency on Aging will receive a $150,000 increase in its budget next year.

“Yes, (those bills) were an issue--they could become an issue--but right now it’s just not an issue,” said Weatherspoon. “I just don’t want to see the seniors frightened. It’s just a misunderstanding.”

Efforts to reach grand jury officials about the discrepancy were unsuccessful Tuesday.

However, Weatherspoon applauded the grand jury’s call for the supervisors to press for more funding for senior programs. Even though it has the fourth-largest senior citizen population in the state, with an estimated 347,000 residents age 60 or older, Orange County ranks next to last in state per capita funding for older residents, said the report.

“The perception is that Orange County is an affluent county, and that perception has led to a decrease in funding from one year to the next,” said Bahai Wilson, who served on the grand jury’s Human Services Committee. “There’s going to be a time very soon when the seniors need the service and it won’t be available to them because of lack of funding.”

The grand jury report said that, compared to other counties in the state, Orange County has the fifth-highest number of residents age 60 or older living in poverty. The county also has the seventh-largest minority population age 60 or older, according to the report.

In addition, the report voiced concern about possible cutbacks in county Dial-a-Ride services for senior citizens as a result of implementation of the federal Americans With Disabilities Act. Dial-a-Ride offers clients door-to-door transportation, thus helping to prevent feelings of isolation, according to the report.

Possible changes could require senior citizens to use public bus transportation, which some seniors will not do, the report said. Walking to bus stops could pose a physical hardship for some, while others might shun public transportation because of crime fears, Wilson said.

Grand jury members also recommended that the supervisors implement a four-year marketing plan to increase awareness of programs for senior citizens.

“Usually, it takes a catastrophic illness and getting your world turned upside down before a senior learns about county services,” Wilson said. “What we need to do is get the wordout to active, healthy seniors now.”