This year marks the 40th anniversary of Senior Network Services. It was in August of 1974 that the doors were opened on the new senior community resource center for senior citizens who needed information and assistance.
This was made possible by a 1968 Federal Outreach Program established by President Johnson’s National Council on Aging and funded by the Office of Economic Opportunity. Santa Cruz County was chosen as one of twelve regions because 19.1 % of our residents were age 65 or older and the national average was only 9%. Now, the office is also partially funded by public donations by businesses and individuals.
The social workers and volunteers who conducted the door-to-door outreach, later became involved in building the strong foundation of what was to become Senior Network services.
Today, seniors can contact by phone or go to one of the Senior Network Offices to find out what is being offered to help seniors find answers to many of their needs and questions. The first step could be to consult their comprehensive directory for phone numbers and addresses of the many agencies that are available for seniors. This Senior Services Directory is published every year by this office and will prove to be very valuable as a current reference book.
Six other programs are available through this private non-profit multipurpose agency.
Case Management Program, which will identify social, financial and safety needs of a senior citizen who wishes to maintain independent living.
Money Management Program provides assistance in completing the mechanics of paying monthly bills, plus help with health insurance paperwork. (This is the only program that requires payment on a sliding fee scale. The others are all free.)
Family Caregiver Support Program offers short-term assistance to families caring for a person who is 60 years or older, and to grandparents 55 or older who are responsible for raising grandchildren. They will be provided with information and assistance to connect them with available resources, to assess and monitor case management services and will be referred to support groups and care giving training.
Home Help And Respite Care Registry Program will match qualified home care workers and home maintenance workers with seniors needing these services. This program provides qualified, dependable low cost workers to relieve caretakers in the home. References and fingerprinting of workers is required.
Senior Network Housing Program provides detailed information and counseling to seniors about their housing options, and assists them in finding shared housing arrangements with seniors and people seeking shared housing. References and fingerprinting are required.
Health Insurance Counseling And Advocacy Program (HICAP). In this program, Medicare beneficiaries are provided with help with their Medicare benefits and rights, information on supplemental insurance coverage, HMOs, prescription drug plans, Long Term Care, appealing denied claims and submitting complex claims. HICAP also provides educational forums.
Brenda Moss, Executive Director who has been with the agency for 30 years, works with a staff of twelve. Brenda states that their mission is to link senior citizens with available services and to be the community information center for senior citizens and their family members.
The main office of Senior Network Services in located in the Live Oak Senior Center annex at 1777-A Capitola road, Santa Cruz, 95062. 831-462-1433.
A Branch office is located in Watsonville Senior Center, 114 East Fifth Street, Watsonville 831-728-1751. Satellite Sites are: the Louden Nelson Community Center, Santa Cruz and Senior Center of San Lorenzo Valley in Ben Lomond.