Cororonavirus is creating concerns large and small for all of us. But, the biggest danger is for seniors. Jackie Selkin of Thousand Oaks says she’s been heeding the warnings, and sheltering at home. The 73 year old is one of a flood of people who’ve reached out for help from Senior Concerns, a Conejo Valley based non-profit dedicated to serving seniors, and their families.
Andrea Gallagher is President of Senior Concerns. She says requests for help in the last month have skyrocketed by about a third, with the Meals on Wheels home meal delivery service topping the list.
Jackie Selkin says she turned to the service three weeks ago, when the stampede for food, and other household products like toilet paper suddenly left her unable to get supplies from the online shopping service she had been using. She’s now a Senior Concerns Meals on Wheels client.
Because of the danger of seniors going out and into markets, Senior Concerns is using an army of more than 70 volunteers to offer a new senior shopping service.
Gallagher says they’ve also set up an emergency food pantry.
But, the non-profit is reeling from the double whammy of a spike in demand, and a loss of some of its major revenue sources. One of it’s biggest efforts is a senior day care program for those with issues like dementia. The coronavirus crisis has forced its closure, and the layoff of 15 Senior Concerns staff members.
Senior Concerns is currently serving more than 200 seniors, but has a list of nearly 100 more who are seeking help. And, that list is expected to keep growing in coming days.
