VAN NUYS : Center to Meet Needs of Children, Elderly

The very young and the very old will both be cared for at a center launched Monday in Van Nuys.

Mayor Tom Bradley and former UCLA basketball coach John Wooden took part in ceremonies that began the remodeling of the Mark Taper Intergenerational Center, to be operated by the Organization for the Needs of the Elderly. Also taking part was Councilwoman Joy Picus, a key supporter of the center. Work will begin next month to modify the organization’s two buildings to house the activities of the center, which is expected to open in January.

The Mark Taper JOY (Joining Older and Younger) Program will incorporate an existing program for the elderly with a West Valley Family YMCA child-care facility, which will move into one of the remodeled buildings. The programs, in adjacent buildings, will hold joint activities several hours a day.

Among other programs, the organization runs a day-care program for the elderly who need supervision because they suffer from diseases such as Alzheimer’s or are too frail to care for themselves, said Estelle Cooper, executive director of the organization.