Serving the Needs of our Local Seniors, By Zach Friend

Serving the Needs of our Local Seniors

By Zach Friend

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Recently, the Board of Supervisors received a presentation from Clay Kempf, the Executive Director of the Seniors Council. The presentation focused on needs of local seniors, the changing landscape at the local and state level, and the work the county and others are doing to make Santa Cruz County an “Age-Friendly Community ,” an official designation from AARP.

Senior Population is Growing A ccording to the California Department of Finance, in the last seven years, the most significant demographic growth in the state has been those over the age of 60.

In fact, while the number of Californians under the age of 18 has actually declined over that time, the numbers of residents over 60 has grown by nearly two million – more than 29 percent.

Locally, the change is even more significant. In Santa Cruz County, the number of residents under the age of 60 declined by over 4 percent in the last seven years. However, the number over the age of 60 has increased by 48 percent.

Why do these figures matter? W ith California’s senior population is expected to nearly double over the next two decades the county, local cities and nonprofit organizations, will need to ensure we meet the changing needs of our community.

While some of these issues, for example housing, apply across the board, there are other challenges that may require different budget approaches and different planning approaches than has been done before.

What are some of the challenges local seniors face? M ore than 25,000 Santa Cruz County seniors do not have enough income to pay for their basic needs. Many seniors have fixed incomes but expenses are not fixed.

Rising housing costs, which has increased local homelessness for people age 50 and up, and rising medical, transportation and food costs all are having a significant impact.

Additionally, many seniors surveyed locally noted that paying for dental care is a significant challenge. As dental care isn’t covered by Medicare (and even though it was recently restored through MediCal) many seniors are without dental coverage all together.

On top of dental care, paying for health care costs in general (costs not covered by Medicare) are difficult for seniors on a fixed income. A number of local seniors have noted they’ve had months where they choose between prescription medication and food based on limited incomes and increased costs.

What are some possible solutions? O ne major issue, understandably, is housing. For the senior population, ways that allow for the ability to age in place, increased creation of senior-specific housing co-housing options, accessory dwelling units (ADUs), mobilehomes or manufactured homes and more deed-restricted affordable housing are all part of the equation.

Put simply, there is a need for increased supply of housing and specifically housing that would benefit seniors — including affordable housing for those with very limited income.

The county has been working on our affordable housing rules to encourage more deed-restricted affordable housing creation including significant fee reductions for smaller and deed-restricted affordable units (including ADUs). Additionally, the county has continued to update its protections to local mobile/manufactured home parks.

Other solutions include improving behavioral and mental health access throughout the county and providing low- and no-cost options for dental care. Expanding access to low and no cost oral health providers has been an identified need throughout the county and local nonprofit providers, doctors and the county have been working on this issue.

This is just a short list of some of the challenges facing our local senior population. Even though great work is being done by local nonprofits and local government, much more will need to be done.

What is an Age Friendly Community? T he AARP Network of AgeFriendly States and Communities is an effort to help cities prepare for their own growing population of older adults. The focus is on specific pillars (communities adopt all or some of the pillars) including transportation, housing, social participation, respect and social inclusion, civic participation and employment, health services, outdoor spaces and more.

A planning effort on these issues benefits the entire community as all ages benefit from the adoption of policies and programs that make neighborhoods walkable, feature transportation options, enable access to key services, provide opportunities to participate in community activities, and support housing that’s affordable and adaptable. Welldesigned, age-friendly communities foster economic growth and make for happier, healthier residents of all ages.

Our county, on an item I brought forward to the Board last year, is in the process of becoming designated as an age-friendly community. Local partners include the Seniors Council and the City of Watsonville is also in the process of joining the county to move forward with this designation. n ••• As always, I appreciate hearing your thoughts. Feel free to call me at 454- 2200 or visit me during my open office hours in Aptos, Corralitos, Seascape and Watsonville.

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