Seniors head to capital to lobby for Adult Protective Services

By GARTH STAPLEY
gstapley@modbee.com

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An aide to Gov. Schwarzenegger "seemed very receptive to the pleas of valley and foothill seniors" who trekked to Sacramento on Monday in support of Adult Protective Services, said Jenny Kenoyer, coordinator of Modesto-based Golden Agers for Progress.

Twenty-five seniors from Stanislaus, San Joaquin, Tuolumne and Calaveras counties bent the ear of Jennifer Kent, associate secretary of legislative affairs for the California Health and Human Services Agency. They're concerned that the governor has suggested cutting $11.4 million in a 10 percent reduction to Adult Protective Services as part of a strategy to address a $15 billion state budget deficit.

GAP leaders say the program's funding has been frozen since 2000, and Schwarzenegger last year canceled a $12 million boost agreed upon by legislators. Many seniors are vulnerable and increasingly in need of protection from elder abuse, advocates say.

The seniors opted to try honey instead of vinegar, bringing a card and gift for Schwarzenegger's recent 61st birthday: a purple Golden Agers for Progress T-shirt, size XXL.

Joining the sit-down were Shannon Lahey, state policy director for Catholic Charities of California, which sponsors GAP, and Connie DaMant, the state Department of Aging's assistant director of legislation.

Since forming recently, GAP has mobilized to protest a lack of money for senior and disabled transit in the road tax measure going to Stanislaus County voters in November.

For more information, call GAP at 593-6124.