The Problem with Senior Housing (Or Lack Of
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Friday, Feb. 19, 2016 Vol. 10 No. 3 12040 Foster Road, Norwalk, CA 90650 Governor proposes The problem with senior housing $176.6M (or lack of it) to clean up no longer taking applications. our streets, and out of shopping carts FridayWeekend67˚ A studio apartment, 525 sq. ft., full of their meager belongings. at a goes for $788 in Norwalk (in my But, in my opinion, not enough Glance Exide income bracket). I applied to two is being brought to the forefront VERNON – Governor Jerry of their apartments, but they could regarding the plight of senior Saturday 6873˚⁰ Brown on Wednesday proposed a not tell me how long the wait would citizens and the middle class with Friday $176.6 million spending plan to fund be. It’s all dependent upon a tenant’s their ever-escalating costs of housing expedited and expanded testing and dying or giving the 30-day required – be it buying or renting. cleanup of residential properties, notice of moving; even then there’s Not giving up too easily, my Sunday 78˚ ⁰ schools, daycare centers and parks that waiting list to deal with! 70 next approach to the problem was Saturday around the former Exide Technologies Totally frustrated by now, one to check into the Whittier area, in facility in Vernon. empathetic woman to whom I particular, as they are known to “This Exide battery recycling talked gave me the phone number have “casitas,” “granny houses” or facility has been a problem for a of someone she knew at the Housing “mother-in-law quarters” behind the THINGS TO DO very long time,” said Brown. “With Authority who she felt sure would be main house. The older section also this funding plan, we’re opening a able to help me. I quickly called him, has an ample variety of duplexes and new chapter that will help protect explained my dilemma in detail and triplexes as well. Those dear friends the community and hold Exide asked, “Isn’t there anything available of mine again drove me up one street responsible.” for an American senior citizen who after another. We saw very few “For The administration’s plan was has contributed to the system for Rent” signs, and the several numbers detailed in a Department of Finance By Sharon Smith I take a ”Memoirs Writing 58 years?” To which he promptly I did call turned out to be for one letter sent to the California State Contributor Class” at the Norwalk Senior Center, replied, “I know what you’re going bedrooms that went for as much as Senate and Assembly Budget and and I asked the receptionist about through. I am a Mexican American $1,100 to $1,300 which just about senior housing, and she gave me a citizen also, and I can’t help my amounted to my total Income per Bob Saget Appropriations Committee chairs. NORWALK – You can’t read the list covering a number of cities in own parents and friends with their month. So, that, too, turned out to Friday, Saturday - Brea Improv The $176.6 million plan will newspaper today or turn on the radio the surrounding area. These were housing needs. The immigrants, be an effort in futility. The “Fuller House” star embraces ensure all residential properties, and TV without hearing or seeing Norwalk, Downey, Bellflower,homeless and lower income brackets his “dark side” in a stand-up comedy schools, daycare centers and parks something on the subject of senior Feeling totally frustrated and Lakewood, Santa Fe Springs, Pico have the priority.” special. $30 within the 1.7 mile radius of the Exide housing. I never would have known “down in the dumps” about the Rivera, and Whittier. I began by Technologies facility are tested and it to be such a drastic problem until it I even learned in one situation, I decided to share my phoning each listed facility and contaminated soil removed where lead became reality for me. conversation that HUD and Section problem with my particular group at eliminated those offering assisted 8 Housing Authorities are no longer the writing class. Bless their hearts! levels are the highest and potential After having worked from age 16 living, since I am fortunate enough taking applications. They, too, are Word got around, a classmate made exposure the greatest. to 76, having two failed marriages, to be in good health and capable of inundated with seemingly endless an offer I couldn’t refuse, and it has This plan expedites and expands and making not-too-smart financial taking care of all my needs. waiting lists! been a win-win situation in a lovely efforts already underway and includes decisions, I was living in a mobile Over the course of the next few home that came with a cute and an exemption to the California home in need of endless repairs. There’s ongoing publicity weeks, dear friends Maggie and playful dog named Dency. Environmental Quality Act, authorities After 14 years of living there, I was surrounding the current and the Eddie accompanied me to facility said. persuaded to retire, and my Social impending homeless population I’m back to my usual “attitude after facility where I was told the Security became my sole source of due to the upcoming El Nino crisis of gratitude,” and thanking God for Local legislators reacted positively wait could be as long as two to six Murder Mystery income. Having lived with various and the influx of the immigrants. It answering the prayers of my friends to the plan. years; the shortest wait time being Saturday, Downey Elks Lodge - relatives in situations not working tugs at my heart-strings, and we can and loved ones and for always one year! Some facilities were taking 5:30 p.m. “I am very pleased to hear that for us, I decided it was time for me to all empathize with the lower income opening another window each time Governor Brown is proposing $176.6 applications; others had such an population, or when seeing the A murder-mystery dinner show check into senior housing. Was I ever one is closed. benefiting the Downey Rose Float million in funds to test and clean up extensive waiting list that they were homeless living under pup tents on in for a rude awakening! Assoc. $50 land around the former Exide plant. Residents of these contaminated areas have been clamoring for urgent relief. “Governor Brown’s funding Legislation would require nursing homes proposal, and his support for expediting the cleanup process, are important steps in making our communities safe once again. To date, the state’s to publicly post number of nurses on duty effort has been dangerously slow and WHITTIER – Assemblymember with disabilities,” stated Calderon. means operators of SNFs can include a minimum number of hours of care underfunded. This announcement is Ian Calderon (D–Whittier) introduced “Residents of Skilled Nursing Facilities non-direct caregiving personnel to provided by CNAs by instituting Comic Expo a much-needed change of direction in Assembly Bill 2079 (AB 2079) and their families deserve a safe living meet the 3.2 nursing hours per patient specified staff-to-patient ratios per Saturday and Sunday, Long Beach the state’s work to clean up Exide. I am Wednesday, which would raise the environment to help patients recover care requirement. This causes chronic shift. Convention Center hopeful the governor’s announcement minimum number of direct care and heal in a timely manner.” under-staffing of registered nurses This bill would raise the minimum All things comics, including actors, will help ensure that the DTSC will service hours for nursing assistants in exhibitors, artists, and more. $20-$30 Current staff requirements for (RNs), licensed vocational nurses number of direct care service hours, have all the funds needed to test and order to improve the quality of care in Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNFs) do (LVNs), and certified nursing assistants transforming the care and environment clean up the affected properties.” nursing facilities. not meet the direct care needs of (CNAs) in these facilities and creates in nursing homes to provide a more “Given the urgency of this crisis, “Nursing assistants are the nursing home residents. The California potentially unsafe living conditions for person centered level of care. I implore the state legislature to residents as they are subject to sub-par primary providers of direct care who Department of Public Health enacted “AB 2079 helps to ensure that direct immediately approve this funding meet the needs of seniors and people regulations that converted the 3.2- care and greater risk of hospitalization. in order to expedite the critical care staff are available to meet the needs hour requirement into ratios; however AB 2079 requires SNFs to publicly of seniors, people with disabilities, and work of cleaning up the poisons in these regulations do not differentiate post, at all times, the number of our contaminated neighborhoods. S HARED STORIES: people recovering from illness and between types of direct caregivers. This direct caregivers on duty and assure injury,” stated Calderon. The health and well-being of our THE TIES That BIND communities depends on swift and Roller Derby sustained action by the state.” Saturday, Veterans Memorial “I have been working closely with Auditorium in Culver City, 5:30 p.m. the Governor on securing funding Angel City Derby opens its 2016 season for Exide,” added Assemblymember My Talented Mother with a double-header. All ages. $13 Cristina Garcia. “I look forward to Even though Janice Collins’s mother was run the restaurant. in Belpre, and she tried to keep the We moved to Stratton, Colorado, working with my colleagues to create a farm girl, she could do so much more.