Seniors group to open Oxnard office Thursday

Scott Hadly

Nov. 4, 2009 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) -- The nonprofit group Congress of California Seniors is opening an office in Oxnard today.

The group, which has offices in Los Angeles and Sacramento, decided to open the "field and special programs" office, in part to tap into the local community of elderly Latinos, said Hank Lacayo, the state president of the not-for-profit organization and a resident of Newbury Park.

"We find that in the senior movement there's a lack of participation from Latino seniors," Lacayo said.

An open house for the office will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. today at 519 South C St.

With help from the Verizon (NYSE:VZ) Foundation, the group is making a big push against elder abuse in Ventura and Santa Clara counties. The foundation has given the group $300,000 in grants to establish the Commitment to End Abuse of Senior and Elders.

"We've had a long standing commitment to end domestic violence and elder abuse," said Jonathan Davies, of Verizon.

In both counties the group will partner with other senior groups, service providers, the District Attorney's office and police agencies to educate people about the problem. Lacayo said elder abuse takes many forms, from physical to financial abuse, and is often under reported.

The Congress of California Seniors also has an advocacy arm that lobbies on behalf of seniors. The recent state budget cuts have stripped out many services for the elderly, according to the group. Lacayo said in the case of elderly abuse, there is now less money earmarked for specific enforcement to combat those kinds of crimes.

The staff at the Oxnard office will be mostly volunteers, Lacayo said.

Newstex ID: KRTB-0210-39480818