Decision to Close Friendship Center Delayed

The Friendship Center adult day care program still has a pulse. A decision on whether or not to shut down the program has been delayed until May 14, with the hope that something can be done to keep it open.

The Livermore Area Recreation and Park District (LARPD) board of directors voted unanimously to delay the decision after hearing from the public that perhaps the district had not explored all of the options to keep the program open.

The Friendship Center, an adult day care program for those 50 and older, provides socialization, recreation and stimulation in a safe, supervised, state-licensed environment while giving respite to families. It has operated for 16 years at Sonoma School. The school is now occupied by the Livermore Valley Charter School, which has said it needs the area occupied by the Friendship Center in order to expand its program. The lease to operate the adult day care runs out on June 30, 2008.

The school district does not charge LARPD for use of the site for its adult day care program, which has helped to make the program affordable to users. Leasing any other location would add the cost of a lease plus the need to adapt the site to the needs of the program.

It is estimated that 23 participants per day are needed to make the program self-supporting. Because of concerns that it might be closing, the attendance has dropped to 11 to 13 a day, making it expensive to keep the program open.

The district considered a number of other locations ranging from leasing in an industrial area to adapting LARPD facilities for the program to building a new, permanent facility. All were deemed to be too costly.

A large crowd was on hand for the public hearing last week. They spoke of the benefits of the program, some noting the improvement in aging parents when they participated in the program. Others said it benefited families as well by providing respite from having to care for a disabled or aging family member.

Board President Steve Goodman said he was willing to delay a decision, although he didn’t hold out much hope. “If it cannot be saved, it’s not because we haven’t valued the program,” he declared. “It has made a difference in people’s lives that you can’t measure. That makes it very difficult to discuss closing it. Time is what we have little of.”

Director Scott Kamena said after listening to the public that there were things the district could have done better. “People gave us ideas tonight. I didn’t expect to hear anything we hadn’t thought of.”

Kamena pointed out that one of the major problems to overcome is licensing. The license goes with the site, not the program. “Adult day care can’t move without obtaining a new license.”

“I am willing to postpone a decision. However, I don’t want people to get their hopes up. We don’t get to decide. It’s not our building. The issue has been festering for three years. If it takes this kind of outpouring to make people change their minds, that’s great,” Kamena declared.

Among those who spoke was Matthew Brandstetter, executive director of the Livermore Valley Charter School. He said that when he came to the school he was thrilled to find it was being shared with senors. “Their impact on young people is tremendous.” He pointed out that the school is in the process of renewing its charter. One of the suggestions of the oversight committee is that the school focus on a K-8 community.

Brandstetter held out hope that some accommodation could be made to retain the Friendship Center. “I’m hoping the three parties can get together in a last ditch effort to see if there is a solution. It is important to this community, and to the world, that we make this work for all parties.”

Some speakers said the district hadn’t looked at all of the options. For example, there are churches in the area that might have space that could be used for the program. Another idea was to add portables at the school site to accommodate more students. Others said that an analysis that the district received regarding the potential for a successful fund-raising campaign was wrong. They said they would be willing to help raise money. A capital campaign could be launched to build a permanent facility. Fund-raising is needed to establish an endowment to help to pay to operate it.

Frosty, a member of the Henchmen Motorcycle Club, declared, “The program has been said to be failing. It’s not failing. No one has asked for help. I’m willing to go door-to-door to ask for help.”

The Henchmen Club has been one of the major financial supporters of the Friendship Center. Members also visit the facility to work with the clients. Over the years, other financial help has come from Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Sandia National Laboratory, Livermore Soroptimist and the Hindu Community and Cultural Center.

Cal Wood read a letter from Marena Drilik, president of the Tri-Valley Adult Day Care Program board. She said that short of the charter school agreeing to take space in another school, the center must close. “Even if it were allowed to stay that would only be a temporary solution. A larger facility is needed to make the program financially viable. It takes a village to honor and celebrate the contributions of our elders.

“We will need all valley citizens to speak for the program with their checkbooks. With a growing population there will need to be at least three centers in the valley,” wrote Drilik.

Dennis Gambs, a member of the board, agreed that it would take an effort by the entire community to keep the current center open and to raise the funds for a permanent location. He declared, “I hope to take all the energy from the meeting and see if we can come up with something.” Gambs can be called at 449-1639.

Director Maryalice Faltings said that the district is not the villain in this process. “We have no place to go and it is not our fault. If we, the people and other civic entities, allow this essential service to die, we should be ashamed of ourselves.” She urged people to go to city council meetings, school board meetings, and meetings of the charter school board and speak up for keeping the program. “Be a good citizen and don’t let this program die.”