The Central Coast Commission for Senior Citizens: Area Agency on Aging is a nonprofit responsible for allocating federal and state funds to local agencies to ensure supportive, nutrition-, and health-promotion services
to seniors in Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties.
The group is currently seeking bidders for its 2011 programs and services.
“The goal is to get a bidder for every section,” Area Agency on Aging Director Joyce Ellen Lippman said.
The agency coordinates a variety of important services for seniors, ranging from personal care to residential repair. The goal is to give seniors the ability and freedom to live safely and securely in their homes instead of being relegated to a retirement home. Specifically, the agency has been allocated $40,549 for personal care, $157,400 for homemaking, and $16,575 for residential repair via the Older Americans and Older Californians Acts.
Implementing these services, however, isn’t easy. The business side of the equation can be difficult to work out. It doesn’t matter how important the program or service is, it almost always comes down to dollars and cents. The government funds haven’t been high enough for the agency to attract a sufficient amount of bidders.
“There are never enough funds,” Lippman told the Sun.
An Applicant’s Conference will be held on Feb. 14 at the Area Agency on Aging office at 528 S. Broadway in Santa Maria. The conference will begin at 3 p.m. with the purpose of explaining the proposal, review process, requirements, and other pertinent areas. Anyone interested is invited to attend.
Intern Jacob Lopez compiled this week’s Community Corner. Send comments or ideas to the Sun via e-mail at intern@santamariasun.com.
This article appears in Feb 10-17, 2011.