Due to the growth of the unmet health
care needs in Orange County, the Board of San Clemente Seniors,
Inc. (SCS), in February 1994, voted to establish a regional Board
to carry on all of South Orange County programs and services with
the exception of the Leo Fessenden Adult Day Health Care Center
(LFADHCC) in San Clemente, California. Consequently, South County
Senior Services, Inc. (SCSS) evolved and became a regional, non-profit
corporation as of January 1995, continuing to help fulfill needs
of seniors and establishing the much needed prevention programs.
SCSS is a legally incorporated 501(c)(3) non profit, public
benefit corporation and has DBAs as South County Adult Day Services
(SCADS), Florence Sylvester Memorial Senior Center (FSMSC), and
San Clemente Seaside Senior Center. Our history of service that
follows is that of SCS.
In 1975, SCS was founded to meet the many needs of senior citizens
in South Orange County due to a lack of services. For FY 1975-76,
a Revenue Sharing Block Grant was awarded to SCS to provide services
in San Clemente. This program continued successfully until September
1984. Funding was received from the Older Americans Act (OAA)
for FY 1977-78, for the development of a multipurpose senior
services program in San Clemente.
These programs formed a base of services upon which the beginnings
of a South County Service Network was established. Within three
years, SCS: 1). funded a van with the local transportation agency;
2). started a home-delivered meals program; 3). opened an Adult
Day Health Care Center; 4). secured major funding for a Senior
Center; and 5). began to actively seek, and thereby, received
funding for a HUD 202 low-income senior housing project.
Amidst these activities, SCS was recruited by the Orange County
Area Agency on Aging (AAA) near the end of FY 1980-81 to assume
contractual responsibility for the AAA programs being operated
by the Saddleback Valley Unified School District in the San Juan
Capistrano and Saddleback Valley areas. Because the school district
wanted to give up the contractual responsibility and SCS was
the only viable organization available with the requisite experience,
the AAA assigned three contracts for services (Titles III-B,
C-1, and C-2) to SCS.
SCS was able to make the transition for FY 1981-82 without
missing a single day of service in their expanded service area.
This was accomplished in spite of the need to locate and establish
new offices, a new meal site, and a new food provider (caterer).
In fact, service levels actually increased significantly over
previous levels during that first year. Once these objectives
were accomplished, SCS initiated a process of establishing and
developing new sites and services, implementing the goal of a
South County Service Network. Monies were sought to build a permanent
senior location in the Saddleback Valley, with the result that
over $500,000 was allocated for a community center in Mission
Viejo with a senior wing in the master plan.
In May
of 1983 a meal site was established at a new community center
in Laguna Hills (Iglesia Community Park). In the fall
of 1983, a new location was opened in San Juan Capistrano in
conjunction with the City’s Recreation Department, offering
greater seating capacity, improved senior access, and a co-location
of services. In FY 1982-83, Title III-B social services were
unified under one contract for the entire South County service
area.
In FY 1983-84, a similar unification was completed for the Title
III C-1 and C-2 programs. At the same time, services were expanded
to include a major Case Management Program, where nurses visit
the home and develop a care plan, throughout the South County
Service Area. This development led to SCS being accepted as a
United Way Agency in November 1983 with an annual grant of $21,000.
SCS received
approval for a HUD 202 senior housing project to be built in
San Clemente, with a grant of over $4 million.
On April 11, 1984 it was announced that a $2,000 Disneyland Community
Service Award be bestowed upon SCS for the outstanding volunteerism
developed in its HDM’s program. During the 1984-1985 contract
year, San Clemente Seniors, DBA South County Senior Services,
expanded services to 12 locations (one presently does HDM only).
Additional sites, where service expansion occurred during the
years 1986-88, were: the City of Newport Beach--two sites were
designated for service; the City of Irvine--began congregate
meals in addition to its successful HDM; and the City of Dana
Point, the Del Obispo Community Center--set aside a room and
desk for our senior programs. In April, 1989 the long awaited
Mission Viejo and Senior Wing (funded by Prop. 30) opened to
serve congregate and home-delivered meals. The Laguna Hills Seniors
moved into rented space in the Willowtree Shopping Center in
1986 with the support of the Freedom Village Contract.
In the senior housing area, we provided contractual technical assistance for
the Freedom Village Lifecare Project in the Saddleback Valley area. We also
supported the HUD Section 202 project in Laguna Beach by securing their additional
county grant to make the project feasible. This development, called Vista Aliso,
encompasses 72 units. Presently, two more housing projects are being pursued.
A permanent senior center has been established in Laguna Niguel under the auspices
of the City of Laguna Niguel.
The continuum of services for in-home support is ongoing, including
case management, home delivered meals program, home health care
and chore assistance. A Respite Registry was established to assist
family members with guidance, information, and referrals for
services to help relieve the stress from caregiving. Tax-exempt
bond financing in 1990-1991, enabled a new state-of-the-art Adult
Day Health Care Center to be built in San Clemente. The 8,000
square foot Center opened in March 1991 and is serving 60 frail
elderly daily with a licensed capacity ultimately of 95.
In May 1993, St. Joseph's Hospital asked SCS to take over the
Adult Day Health Care Center in Laguna Hills. With the approval
of the regional Board of Directors at SCSS, the program was moved
to its own building in May 1994, and opened the Dr. Gerald Bernath
Alzheimer's Unit on September 1, 1995.
Property for a new Senior Center for Laguna Hills was donated
to us on July 22, 1994, and the Florence Sylvester Memorial Senior
Center was built in 1999.
The efforts to establish a continuum of care in all of South County have been
successful. We are now focusing on developing a new Senior Center in Laguna
Beach and a replacement Center in San Clemente.
Take a look
at our Fact Sheet for
some quick information on South County Senior Services! |
