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Over 60? California has a PLan
home to some 10.8 million people aged 60-plus by 2030—nearly a quarter of the state’s population. This demographic shift will require dramatically increased access to affordable housing, healthcare, and social services.
Recognizing that this demographic change is sure to impact almost every aspect of life, Governor Gavin Newsom issued an executive order in 2019 calling for the creation of a plan. Released last year, California’s Master Plan for Aging affirms the need for policies that protect the older population and prepare the state for a “huge demographic change” according to California Department of Aging (CDA) Director Susan DeMarois.
The Master Plan for Aging establishes five primary goals, including housing for all ages and stages, health reimagined, equity and inclusion, caregiving that works, and affordable aging.
The plan acknowledges that “affordable aging” is becoming more difficult to find. Almost 30 percent of older Californians currently live in poverty or near poverty, and more than two million older adults in California are economically insecure.
officials predict California Will be
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California’s plan proposes more affordable housing units with “disability-friendly” transportation networks, outdoor and community spaces for all ages, and improved emergency response and preparedness.
While efforts to create the plan began prior to the pandemic, the onset of COVID-19 emphasized the urgency of developing a plan to address aging. In his letter on the Master Plan for Aging, Newsom said the outbreak “exposed persistent and systemic inequities” in the state, and strained aging and disability services “like never before.”
With this in mind, the governor’s plan aims to increase the number of caregiver jobs by expanding support for these workers through paid family leave, multilingual training resources, and virtual care options.
About $3 billion has been invested in the master plan and its implementation so far, but the total cost of implementation has not yet been determined.
According to DeMarois, prior plans to address aging focused narrowly on health care. This version, however, seeks to address the full array of challenges and opportunities faced by older adults across the state.
“This master plan is very comprehensive,” she says. “It looks at the whole person.” Perhaps most importantly, the plan was a universally supported endeavor by the Governor, State Legislature and stakeholders, she said. If you are a California resident age 60 and above, or a caregiver for someone who is, the Master Plan for Aging exists for you.
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California has the second highest average life expectancy in the nation at
81.9 Years
With this in mind, the governor’s plan aims to increase the number of caregiver jobs by expanding support for these workers through paid family leave, multilingual training resources, and virtual care options.
About $3 billion has been invested in the master plan and its implementation so far, but the total cost of implementation has not yet been determined.
According to DeMarois, prior plans to address aging focused narrowly on health care. This version, however, seeks to address the full array of challenges and opportunities faced by older adults across the state.
“This master plan is very comprehensive,” she says. “It looks at the whole person.” Perhaps most importantly, the plan was a universally supported endeavor by the Governor, State Legislature and stakeholders, she said. If you are a California resident age 60 and above, or a caregiver for someone who is, the Master Plan for Aging exists for you.
California’s plan proposes more affordable housing units with “disability-friendly” transportation networks, outdoor and community spaces for all ages, and improved emergency response and preparedness.
While efforts to create the plan began prior to the pandemic, the onset of COVID-19 emphasized the urgency of developing a plan to address aging. In his letter on the Master Plan for Aging, Newsom said the outbreak “exposed persistentand systemic inequities” in thestate, and strained aging and disability services “like never before.”
home to some 10.8 million people aged 60-plus by 2030—nearly a quarter of the state’s population. This demographic shift will require dramatically increased access to affordable housing, healthcare, and social services.
Recognizing that this demographic change is sure to impact almost every aspect of life, Governor Gavin Newsom issued an executive order in 2019 calling for the creation of a plan. Released last year, California’s Master Plan for Aging affirms the need for policies that protect the older population and prepare the state for a “huge demographic change” according to California Department of Aging (CDA) Director Susan DeMarois.
The Master Plan for Aging establishes five primary goals, including housing for all ages andstages, health reimagined, equity and inclusion, caregiving thatworks, and affordable aging.
The plan acknowledges that “affordable aging” is becoming more difficult to find. Almost 30 percent of older Californians currently live in poverty or near poverty, and more than two million older adults in California are economically insecure.