The living room rug hasn’t been vacuumed in weeks. The leaves are piling up in the backyard. The apartment is so quiet: the phone hasn’t rung in days. For most of the 53,000 people in Monterey County who are over the age of 60, a scenario like this isn’t dire enough to inspire a call for help. Even those who are living with a chronic illness, having trouble with essential tasks like getting groceries, often don’t want to admit they need assistance.

Sam Trevino wants to change that attitude. On May 19, Trevino, managing director of the Monterey County Area Agency on Aging, will ask for public input on a plan that looks at the needs of local seniors. Published every four years, the Area plan covers issues related to the aged population such as housing, mental health, resources, elder abuse, resources and health care. Trevino says that although there are countywide services already in place, they are under-utilized.

“As a culture, we value being able to solve our own problems,” he says. ‘There are many talented people who are working on behalf of seniors, but with all the funding and trained staff in the world, we aren’t going to be able to resolve anything if the consumer doesn’t take the first step and call.”

The updated plan looks at the changing face of seniors. According to census data, the senior population in the county is 69 percent white, 17 percent Hispanic, 9 percent Asian/Pacific islander, and 3 percent African-American. But the future ethnic makeup of seniors is predominately Hispanic.

“As planners that speaks very loud to us,” Trevino says. “We will need to study aggressively in the next area plan how we are going to plan for a ethnic minority boomer population.”

Trevino points out that about 4,300 Monterey County seniors live at or below the poverty level. Because of federal cuts to subsidized housing, finding more affordable housing units is a top priority.

Affording prescription drugs and medical care while living on fixed incomes also concerns seniors.

“There seems to be growing stress in accessing health care and concerns about physicians dropping out of Medicare plans,” Trevino says.

Another priority, Trevino says, is educating the public about elder abuse.

“I think, unfortunately, that incidents are increasing. People need to know to report, even if they aren’t sure abuse is occurring. Reporting is anonymous. Allow the experts and authorities to interpret the situation.”

The public hearing on the Area Plan on Agency will be held at 1:45pm, May 19, at 1000 S. Main St., Suite 1100, in Salinas. Call 755-4466 for more information. [BW]