A recent survey of senior residents of Thousand Oaks revealed that many aren’t aware of the city’s Council on Aging and the programs and services it offers.

“There is somewhat more awareness than in 2001 of the Council on Aging,” said survey chair Mel Silberberg, speaking of the last senior survey the city conducted four years ago. “We need to gain greater recognition so that more seniors can enjoy the services we offer.”

Silberberg presented the survey results to city council members on Oct. 11.

The Council on Aging is an advisory group that makes recommendations to the city council on issues of interest to seniors. Among the programs and services the group oversees are the senior discount program and a senior services directory.

“It’s a little disconcerting to hear that not a lot of people are aware of the Council on Aging,” said Mayor Claudia-Bill de la Peña. “We have to get the word out.”

The survey also determined that the top five services used by seniors are the Goebel Center, Social Security Administration, subsidized taxi service, Grey Law (a private, nonprofit group that provides free legal services to senior residents of Ventura County), and Senior Concerns.

Seniors’ top five concerns out of a total of 23 include affordable housing, prescription drugs, crime prevention, transportation and long-term care.

“There is a high priority on maintaining independence,” Silberberg said.

There are about 21,000 seniors living in Thousand Oaks, according to Silberberg. About 1,460 surveys were distributed through the city’s Goebel Senior Adult Center. The committee received 438 responses.

The survey has a multifold purpose: to obtain a demographic profile of the city’s senior population, to learn what seniors’ concerns and unmet needs are in order to help guide the development of future programs and services, and to obtain awareness of the Council on Aging among seniors.

The survey is conducted every four years by the Council on Aging. The survey was sent out last May and June.

The questions were designed by the Council on Aging survey committee, based on the 2001 survey.

According to the survey, 81 percent of the respondents own their own homes, as compared with 71 percent in 2001.

The demographic profile of the respondents indicated that 85 percent were over 65, with 22 percent over 81. Two-thirds of the respondents were women and 53 percent of the respondents were married, as compared with 40 percent in 2001. About 82 percent were fully retired and 12 percent worked part-time.

Most of the respondents drive, 78 percent without restriction, 7 percent with restrictions. Eight percent rely on relatives, friends or neighbors to drive them and 6 percent use the subsidized taxi service provided by the city. Only 1 percent of the respondents use public transportation. Respondents expressed concern about transportation out of the county to airports and health centers including Kaiser Permanente in Woodland Hills.

“I hope staff is able to utilize that information and come up with a solution,” Councilmember Jacqui Irwin said.