Alzheimer's association pleads for public help
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. -- The local group that helps some of our most vulnerable senior citizens has a budget crisis, and they're asking the public for help. Both state and county funds have stopped for Alzheimer's "day care," and that will leave some families struggling to get this vital care.
"Unfortunately, I believe our seniors are the forgotten generation," Alzheimer's association CEO Kate Eucce told Eyewitness News. The organization has the day care at the Olive Drive Church, and Eucce calls it one of the community's "best kept secrets."
Seniors get special care, with different activities every 30 minutes. It helps them, and gives the families a break in providing care.
"It's important," Debbie Naworksi told Eyewitness News on Tuesday as she picked up her mother, who is "eighty-four and a half" years old.
"They've got activities for them there that help stimulate their minds," Naworski said.
The care costs $10 an hour, which Naworksi said is much better than other places where she'd check on senior care. The family can pay for that using her mother's funds and Social Security benefits. But, many families are not as lucky.
"They don't have retirement, they do not have the Social Security that we have today," Association spokeswoman Gladys Zobel said many of their seniors don't have resources to pay. That's why the association needed help from state funds.
But, last fall the state cut funds for this. At that time, Kern County managed to step forward and make up about half that lost funding. But, as of July first, the county money also disappears.
"A lot of our families need financial assistance to be able to come," Eucce said. And, if the assistance money is gone, these families will have to cut back.
"They'll no longer be able to attend our facility, or if they can continue to come, won't be able to come as often."
The association has worked hard on fund-raising. Several big companies have donated, and they plan a golf tournament in September to bring in funds. But, they really hope the public will pitch in.
So, they're asking anyone to "sponsor" a family. So far some help has come in, but they need more.
"We're still looking for many, many sponsors to help with these families," Eucce said.
Zobel said they can make sure any donations go to this purpose.
"Donations to this fund, they can specify it is to be in this fund, and these people who need help," Zobel said. They suggest donations from $60 for one day of adult day care up to $1,440 for one day a week for six months.
Zobel and Eucce are both concerned that if some of the seniors can't come as much to day care, they'll end up in residential facilities.
"They won't last long there," Zobel worried. And Eucce added some families may have no other choice.
"Some of them would consider placement, and placement is the worst thing for these people coming in here."
Naworski considers the day care vital for her family. If they couldn't use it, that would be detriment for her mother and the entire family.
"We'd be back to square one, which is where we've been for the last couple years," Naworski said. "And that is where I didn't get a break at all."
To make donations or find out more about the Alzheimer's Disease Association of Kern County, call 393-8871.
