Senior services ‘road map’ endorsed by Los Gatos Town Council

Los Gatos’ fast-growing senior population could be seeing a significant bump in resources and services within the next decade.

Los Gatos Town Council endorsed a Senior Services Roadmap, which outlines short- and long-term goals for seniors, at its Tuesday night meeting.

The roadmap report illuminated several areas of growth in town to better support its older adult population that council and staff can tackle in the coming years.

“Our goal is to move from a town with one of the regionally lowest, least coordinated efforts for senior services to a thriving age-friendly town where older adults provide substantial contributions and support,” the report reads.

Tom Picraux, chair of the Community Health and Senior Services Commission that developed the roadmap, estimated that about one third of the town’s population will be seniors in the next 10 years and said it’s important to begin investing in activities, resources and services for older residents.

Goals in the report ranged from creating a senior services facility, boosting communication and engagement, and establishing a nonprofit organization to generate funds for the projects.

“A report of this magnitude, it required a lot of passion, active involvement, thoughtfulness,” Councilmember Mary Badame said.

In the next year, the committee hopes to re-establish some core services for seniors and establish a nonprofit. Within the next 10 years, the group hopes to either refurbish or build a community center for seniors.

Some neighboring cities have new senior facilities, like Los Altos’ new $35 million city-funded facility and Palo Alto’s senior center.

Senior housing was another top priority. The roadmap suggested creating an inventory of senior housing opportunities and connecting seniors to home maintenance helpers and realtors when necessary.

Affordable housing is limited in Los Gatos. The latest affordable development for seniors, Walnut Grove in the North 40 development, had more than 340 applicants and 49 units.

So far, 27 tenants have signed leases at the property and 14 more are likely to sign soon, leaving just eight units left to be filled via a lottery.

Council and staff said some of the roadmap’s recommendations can be addressed through commission collaboration, such as working with the transportation commission to establish a senior shuttle or the planning commission to create more affordable senior housing.

Picraux said the committee also hopes to create an age-friendly coordinator position to be the central point of contact for these services, initiatives and accountability.

The committee was established in August 2021, with the intention of conducting extensive community outreach like workshops in developing its own report.