The Master Plan for Aging for Fresno

Governor Newsom announced his commitment to a Master Plan for Aging last year. Senator Jackson introduced a bill for The Master Plan for Aging which was signed by the governor this October. She said The Master Plan for Aging “provides a framework for state and local officials to look at and address the challenges facing California and its older citizens.” In response to the Master Plan for Aging, groups are meeting across California to talk about how their communities can become more age-friendly.

Organized by the Central Valley Long Term Supports and Services Coalition, a group of senior professionals, community advocates, and older adults came together on October 16^th to discuss the opportunities and challenges to making Fresno and Madera more age friendly. Participants were divided into seven groups and each group focused on an issue relevant to improving the quality of life for older adults. Participants discussed housing, employment and volunteer opportunities, transportation, help at home, support for family members caring for older adults, mental health, and strategies for connecting older adults to needed services. The group identified lack of affordable housing, help at home to maintain independent living, and mental health changes, like Alzheimer’s and depression to be the most pressing issues for older adults in Fresno county. 

Assemblymember Dr. Joaquin Arambula addressed the group expressing his commitment to the Master Plan for Aging and acknowledging the need for more resources in the Central Valley for older adults to age at home. Senator Hurtado’s representative, Alicia Jacobo, attended the event as did Congressman Jim Costas’ district representative.

Ideas and recommendations from the meeting will be developed into a report, which will be shared with the members of the Master Plan for Aging Stakeholder Advisory committee.

View ABC30’s coverage of the event.

Master Plan for Aging

Gavin Newsom’s reasoning for the Master Plan for Aging is the rapidly aging California population.  There will be four million more older Californians by the year 2030 and California is not prepared to meet the health and long-term care and social support needs which will come with the demographic shift. The Governor would like to see services for older adults be more person centered. Older adults should be able to receive the services that are best for them. He is also concerned about how difficult it is for older adults to connect to the services they need. Other issues include transportation, the shortage of health care workers, and the need to increase services so older adults can stay at home.

A website has been created for the public to share their ideas with regards to aging in California.