Editorial: Housing alternative for seniors

Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2001 | 9:50 a.m.

It is promising that U.S. Sen. Harry Reid and state Assembly Majority Leader Barbara Buckley are advocating the construction of a state-of-the-art housing complex for seniors who have low incomes. What the two Democrats are proposing is a coordinated effort among federal, state and local governments that would result in the building of a 160-unit facility in the valley. The complex would be run by local nonprofit agencies; a sliding scale, based on the income of residents, would determine the rent.

There is a need for more senior-oriented services in the region. The growth of the senior population is greater here than in any other area of the nation during the past five years -- 236,000 seniors now call Las Vegas home. Sure, many senior citizens who retire here from other states are financially secure and live in master-planned communities such as Sun City. But that image isn't true for all seniors, including for many who have lived here for decades and for some recent transplants, many of whom barely get by.

Seniors frequently find that they need assistance from the government or nonprofit groups. Sometimes this results from costly medical care, including expensive stays in nursing homes. Others run into a Catch-22. They may not need constant medical supervision, but they do experience incredible difficulty in safely getting around on their own. For instance, an ailment or failing health can make as simple a task as getting up from a chair on their own a struggle itself -- a stumble that results in a fall can have a disastrous consequence, including broken bones. What these seniors could use is a room in an assisted living center where they can get occasional help -- when needed -- in carrying out seemingly routine chores. But assisted living centers often are expensive and out of reach for many.

Reid said he would work on getting federal government land for the facility at little or no cost. Buckley, meanwhile, wants Guinn to include $6 million in his budget to build the first phase of the senior-living complex, a 60-room facility that also would offer on-site visits from health care providers. The second phase would encompass 100 rooms, which would be designed for couples who need affordable housing and different types of care. A third phase would be a nursing home for seniors who need constant medical attention.

Guinn will outline his spending priorities for the next two years during his State of the State address on Jan. 22. For the most part, his budget is pretty much finished. The Reid-Buckley proposal, however, is worthy. It is hoped that the governor and the Legislature set aside enough funds to help get this project moving.