GOOD AFTERNOON. THANK
YOU. EVERYONE FOR JOINING US
TODAY FOR THE FIRST AGING
HEARING OF 2024. I AM VERY
EXCITED TO SHARE THIS COMMITTEE
FOR THE SECOND YEAR. UM I AM THE
FIRST MEDICAL DOCTOR TO CHAIR
AGING AND LONG TERM CARE, AND I
BRING THAT LENS TO ALL OF MY
POLICY WORK. I BRING THE
COMMITMENT TO UNDERSERVED
COMMUNITIES SPECIFICALLY, UM, IN
UNDERSERVED COMMUNITY THAT I
REPRESENT KERN COUNTY AND OTHER
RURAL AND UNDERSERVED AREAS THAT
CONTINUE TO STRUGGLE. I GRATEFUL
TO ALL THE ADVOCATES WHO HAVE
MET WITH ME OVER THE PAST YEAR
AND LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING
TOGETHER IN THE FUTURE.
TRANSPARENCY IS VERY IMPORTANT.
NOT EVERYONE HAS THE OPPORTUNITY
OR ABILITY TO BE IN SACRAMENTO
OR HAVE REPRESENTATION IN
SACRAMENTO. WE WILL REMAIN
ACCESSIBLE THROUGH LIVE
STREAMING. HOWEVER THE ASSEMBLY
IS NÓ LONGER, ALLOWING FOR PHONE
IN TESTIMONY. TO ENSURE MEMBERS
OF THE MEDIA OF THE MEDIA AND
PUBLIC HAVE ACCESS TO OUR
PROCEEDINGS. TODAY THIS HEARING
WILL BE STREAMED ON THE
ASSEMBLY'S WEBSITE AND MEMBERS
OF THE PUBLIC CAN PROVIDE
TESTIMONY IN PERSON HERE IN ROOM
126 IF ANY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC
IN THE ROOM WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK
DURING PUBLIC COMMENT AT THE END
OF THE HEARING, PLEASE SIGN IN
WITH THE SERGEANTS AND THE BACK.
I WILL ASK YOU TO APPROACH THE
MICROPHONE AT THE APPROPRIATE
TIME. SO I WOULD NOW LIKE TO
CALL THIS HEARING OF THE AGING
AND LONG TERM CARE COMMITTEE
ORDER. THERE HAS BEEN AN
INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF CHANGE AND
ATTENTION GIVEN TO AGING AND
LONG TERM CARE THROUGH THE
MASTER PLAN FOR AGING. IT IS
MOVING INTO YOUR FORE AND HAS
THUS FAR BEEN VERY, VERY
SUCCESSFUL, BUT CAN ONLY
CONTINUE TO BE SUCCESSFUL WITH
OUR SUPPORT AND SUPPORT SEEN IN
THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET. THE
PANDEMIC DIDN'T CREATE
DISPARITIES FOR AGING AND
DISABLED CALIFORNIANS. IT
ACTUALLY HIGHLIGHTED WHAT HAS
LONG EXISTED, AND AS WE OFTEN
HEAR OUR BUDGET IS A VALUED
DOCUMENT. WHO AND WHAT DO WE
VALUE? WITH EVERY POLICY AND
BUDGET ASKED BEFORE US, WE
SHOULD BE ASKING. HOW DOES THIS
IMPACT OLDER CALIFORNIANS AND
PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES? DO ANY
OTHER MEMBERS WISH TO SAY
ANYTHING? TRUST ME. ALL RIGHT.
WELL I WOULD LIKE TO NOW
INTRODUCE SUSAN DAMARIS, A
DIRECTOR OF THE CALIFORNIA
DEPARTMENT OF AGING TO GIVE
BACKGROUND ON THE MASTER PLAN
FOR AGING. SUSAN THANK YOU SO
MUCH FOR BEING HERE. GOOD
AFTERNOON, MADAM CHAIR. CLOSER.
YOU GOT IT. ALL RIGHT. BETTER OK
, GOOD AFTERNOON, MADAM CHAIR
AND CONSULTANT. STAFF
CONSULTANTS. THANK YOU SO MUCH
FOR FOCUSING YOUR FIRST HEARING
OF THE YEAR ON THE MASTER PLAN
FOR AGING, WHICH I'LL BE
REFERRING TO HEREAFTER AS THE MP
A UM, IT IS ABSOLUTELY AN HONOR
TO SPEAK TO CALIFORNIA'S
INCREDIBLE PROGRESS BUILDING OFF
THE SOLID FOUNDATION WE
ESTABLISHED IN 2021 THE PLANS
INAUGURAL YEAR. THE MP A IS NOT
A REPORT THAT SITS ON A SHELF.
TODAY YOU'LL HEAR COUNTLESS
EXAMPLES OF HOW THE MPA STAYS
RELEVANT, DYNAMIC AND IMPACTFUL
ON THIS OUR FOURTH YEAR OF
IMPLEMENTATION. ONE MEASURE OF
OUR SHARED SUCCESS IS THE
HISTORIC LEVEL OF INVESTMENT IN
PROGRAMS, SERVICES AND SYSTEM
CHANGE EFFORTS IN SUPPORT OF THE
POPULATIONS. WE ALL CARE DEEPLY
ABOUT. IT IS REMARKABLE THAT AS
A STATE WE HAVE ALREADY INVESTED
CLOSE TO $9.5 BILLION ACROSS THE
MPAS FIVEFOLD GOALS. AND THIS
NUMBER DOESN'T EVEN REFLECT
BROADER INVESTMENTS LIKE TRANSIT
AND CLIMATE READINESS THAT
BENEFIT CALIFORNIANS ACROSS THE
LIFESPAN. WE KNOW THERE IS STILL
MUCH WORK TO BE DONE ACROSS ALL
GOAL AREAS TO DRIVE SYSTEM
CHANGE IN THE POLICY REALM
THROUGH THE BUDGET PROCESS AND
IN COLLABORATION WITH LOCAL,
STATE AND FEDERAL PARTNERS. I
WANT TO SPECIALLY ACKNOWLEDGE
THE GOVERNOR'S COMMITMENT IN THE
JANUARY 10TH BUDGET TO PROTECT
VULNERABLE POPULATIONS,
INCLUDING OLDER ADULTS, PEOPLE
WITH DISABILITIES AND FAMILY
CAREGIVERS, AND WE CAN POINT TO
THE MP A. AS YOU SAID AS A
STATEMENT OF OUR VALUES IN GOOD
BUDGET, YEARS AND BAD. FROM THE
OUTSET, THE MP A HAS LED WITH
EQUITY WE EMBRACE THE STRONG AND
VARIED CULTURAL TRADITIONS
AROUND AGING IN OUR STATE, AS
WELL AS ADDRESSING LIFELONG
DISPARITIES AND INEQUITIES FACED
BY OLDER CALIFORNIANS. WE REMAIN
LASER FOCUSED ON EQUITY TO
ENSURE ALL CALIFORNIANS HAVE
OPTIONS TO LIVE, HOW AND WHERE
THEY CHOOSE IRRESPECTIVE OF AGE,
DISABILITY, RACE, ETHNICITY,
LANGUAGE, IMMIGRATION STATUS,
GENDER IDENTIFICATION, SEXUAL
ORIENTATION, RURAL SETTING AND
OTHER DEMOGRAPHICS. WE'RE PROUD
OF OUR EFFORTS TO EMBED AND
UPLIFT EQUITY THROUGHOUT THE MP
A AS DEMONSTRATED THROUGH A
NUMBER OF TARGETED INITIATIVES.
THIS INCLUDES DEVELOPMENT OF A
FIRST OF ITS KIND MP EQUITY
FRAMEWORK. OF SPECIAL NOTE. THE
LEGISLATURE HAS HELPED SUPPORT
CALIFORNIA'S FIRST EVER L GB Tð
QI, A PLUS OLD SURVEY OF OLDER
ADULTS AND NEARLY 4000.
CALIFORNIANS HAVE RESPONDED TO
THIS SURVEY BEFORE THE MARCH
31ST DEADLINE. IN ADDITION TO
CENTERING ON EQUITY, THE MP A'S
SUCCESS RELIES ON FOUR KEY
COMPONENTS. FIRST LEADERSHIP
FROM GOVERNOR NEWSOM AND THE
LEGISLATURE. GOVERNOR NEWSOM'S
BOLD LEADERSHIP TO ESTABLISH THE
MP A HAS RESULTED IN A 10 YEAR
BLUEPRINT FOR CALIFORNIA.
TRANSFORMATIONAL CHANGE REQUIRES
ENGAGEMENT AND COLLABORATION
BETWEEN STATE AND LOCAL
AGENCIES. THE LEGISLATURE AND
THE PRIVATE SECTOR. THIS
LEADERSHIP STARTS WITH THE
GOVERNOR'S EXECUTIVE ORDER IN
1419 CABINET WORK GROUP AND
SENIOR ADVISOR ON AGING
DISABILITY AND ALZHEIMER'S. THE
ADMINISTRATION IS CLOSELY LINKED
TO THE STATUTORY FRAMEWORK
ESTABLISHED BY THE LEGISLATURE
IN S¼ B 288, AUTHORED BY SENATOR
HANNA, BETH JACKSON. AS OUTLINED
BY THE GOVERNOR'S EXECUTIVE
ORDER, THE CALIFORNIA HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY. UNDER THE
LEADERSHIP OF SECRETARY MARK
GALLEY, HAS PRIMARY
RESPONSIBILITY FOR LEADING
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE MP, A I'M
HONORED AS DIRECTOR OF THE
DEPARTMENT OF AGING TO PARTNER
WITH AND COORDINATE EFFORTS
ACROSS OUR SISTER DEPARTMENTS
AND AGENCIES. WE'RE FORTUNATE TO
HAVE THE STAFF RESOURCES TO
STAND UP THE èC Dð, A DIVISION
OF POLICY RESEARCH AND EQUITY OR
THE MP A IS PERMANENTLY HOUSED.
SECOND BREAKING DOWN SILOS WITH
A COMPREHENSIVE WHOLE OF
GOVERNMENT AND WHOLE OF SOCIETY
APPROACH. MEETING COMPLEX HEALTH
, SOCIAL HOUSING AND
TRANSPORTATION NEEDS REQUIRES A
COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH TO SYSTEM
CHANGE SPANNING ACROSS PROGRAMS,
AGENCIES AND SECTORS. EACH OF
THE MPAS FIVE BOLD GOALS REFLECT
THIS WHOLE PERSON APPROACH. ONE
HOUSING FOR ALL AGES AND STAGES
TO HEALTH REIMAGINED THREE
INCLUSION AND EQUITY, NOT
ISOLATION. FOR CAREGIVING
NETWORKS AND FIVE AFFORDING
AGING. THIS PAST YEAR, WITH
FUNDING MADE AVAILABLE BY THE
LEGISLATURE. 21 LOCAL
COMMUNITIES WERE AWARDED MP A
PLANNING GRANTS TO BUILD AGING
AND DISABILITY CAPACITY, ALL
PART OF OUR WHOLE OF GOVERNMENT
APPROACH. THIRD MEANINGFUL
STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT. THE REAL
STRENGTH OF THE MP A COMES FROM
PEOPLE WITH LIVED EXPERIENCE AND
COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO ARE
WORKING ON THE GROUND WITH AND
ON BEHALF OF OLDER ADULTS,
PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES AND
CAREGIVERS. IN FACT, IT WAS
STAKEHOLDERS WHO FIRST CALLED
FOR THE PLAN CONTRIBUTED
THOUSANDS OF VOLUNTEER HOURS TO
DEVELOP RECOMMENDATIONS TO
INFORM THE MP A AND TODAY
STEWARD THE WORK IN COUNTLESS
WAYS. THE ADMINISTRATION
REGULARLY ENGAGES WITH 100
DIVERSE STAKEHOLDERS THROUGH SIX
STANDING ADVISORY COMMITTEES,
ADDRESSING HOME AND COMMUNITY
LIVING, ELDER AND DISABILITY
JUSTICE. EQUITY ALZHEIMER'S AND
DEMENTIA, DATA AND RESEARCH AND
MP A OVERSIGHT. I'M PLEASED THAT
YOU'LL HEAR NEXT FROM KEVIN
PRENDEVILLE AS A REPRESENTATIVE
OF THE IMPACT COMMITTEE. OUR
STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT IS NOT
LIMITED TO THESE SIX COMMITTEES.
LAST YEAR, èC Dð LED A ROBUST
PUBLIC PROCESS YOU'LL HEAR MORE
ABOUT FROM AN EXCEPTIONAL LEADER
IN OUR NETWORK VICTORIA JUMP.
KNOWN AS CALIFORNIA, 2030. WE
CONDUCTED A COMPREHENSIVE
ASSESSMENT OF OUR AGING NETWORK,
THE 33 AREA AGENCIES ON AGING OR
TRIPLE A'S THAT SPAN 58 COUNTIES
WITH MORE THAN 100 IN DEPTH,
STAKEHOLDER INTERVIEWS AND
SURVEY RESPONSES FROM OVER
17,000 OLDER ADULTS IN ALL 58
COUNTIES. WE ARE WELL POSITIONED
TO SEIZE ON THE INCREDIBLE
MOMENTUM HAPPENING AT THE LOCAL,
STATE AND FEDERAL LEVELS AHEAD
OF 2030 WHEN ONE IN FOUR
CALIFORNIANS WILL BE 60 OR
OLDER. WHAT'S MORE WITH OUR
GENEROUS PHILANTHROPIC PARTNERS
WERE THRILLED TO BE ABLE TO
CONVENE FOR THE SECOND TIME, THE
COW FOR ALL AGES AND ABILITIES
DAY OF ACTION IN SACRAMENTO,
THIS OCTOBER. 8TH WHERE WE ARE
EXCITED TO REFINE AND FURTHER
FOCUS OUR MP A INITIATIVES FOR
THE NEXT TWO YEARS PRIORITIZING
THE NEED FOR PERSON CENTERED
SYSTEM CHANGE. AND THE FOURTH
AREA I WANT TO FOCUS ON IS
ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY.
UH, FIVE AREAS, IN PARTICULAR
ONE. THE ANNUAL REPORT TO THE
LEGISLATURE AND OPPORTUNITIES
LIKE THIS TO PRESENT TO RELEVANT
COMMITTEES. TWO THE MP A
INITIATIVE TRACKER, THREE THE MP
A IMPACT COMMITTEE FOR OUR DATA
DASHBOARD FOR AGING AND FIVE KEY
OUTCOME MEASURES UNDER
DEVELOPMENT BY OUR AGING AND
DISABILITY RESEARCH PARTNERSHIP.
TO DATE, WE HAVE PRODUCED THREE
ON TIME. ANNUAL REPORTS TO THE
LEGISLATURE AVAILABLE TO THE
PUBLIC ONLINE. WE LAUNCHED A
PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE REAL TIME
ONLINE. MP, A INITIATIVE
TRACKER. WE WELCOME THE
OVERSIGHT OF THE IMPACT
COMMITTEE, INCLUDING THEIR
OBJECTIVE REPORT ON OUR WORK
EACH SPRING. WE CONTINUE TO
EXPAND AND REFINE THE DATA
DASHBOARD ON AGING AND WE ARE
FINALIZING OUR FIRST OUR FIRST
KEY OUTCOME. MEASURES ON
CRITICAL TOPICS SUCH AS HOUSING
AND HOMELESSNESS, BEHAVIORAL
HEALTH AND CAREGIVING. WE'RE
PROUD OF OUR PART IN DELIVERING
ON THE PROMISE OF BUILDING A
CALIFORNIA FOR ALL AGES AND
ABILITIES BY 2030. JUST TWO
WEEKS AGO, THE U S¼ SENATE
INTRODUCED FEDERAL LEGISLATION
TO ADOPT A NATIONAL STRATEGIC
PLAN ON AGING, MODELED ON OUR
STATE'S MP. ALL EYES ARE ON
CALIFORNIA AND OUR LEADERS AS WE
CONTINUE TO MODEL THE WAY TO
OTHER STATES IN THE NATION. BUT
MOST IMPORTANTLY, OUR EYES ARE
FIXED ON HOW THE MP A IS
REIMAGINING HOW WE SERVE AND
SUPPORT OLDER ADULTS, PEOPLE
WITH DISABILITIES AND FAMILY
CAREGIVERS HERE IN OUR HOME
STATE. I'LL NOW TURN TO MY
COLLEAGUE, ARE YOU? YOU'RE NEXT.
UM I'LL NOW TURN TO MY COLLEAGUE
SARAH STEINHAUS, OUR DEPUTY
DIRECTOR OF èC Dð, A S¼
DIVISION OF POLICY RESEARCH AND
EQUITY EQUITY. SARAH WILL
DISCUSS THE MP A MOVING FORWARD
AND THE KEY PRIORITIES ON WHICH
WE ARE CENTERING OUR WORK. THANK
YOU, SUSAN AND GOOD AFTERNOON,
MADAM CHAIR AND MEMBERS. IT'S AN
HONOR TO BE HERE TODAY TO SPEAK
WITH YOU ABOUT THE ADVANCEMENT
OF THE MASTER PLAN FOR AGING. AT
THE START OF THE MP'S FOURTH
YEAR. WE ARE SO PROUD OF OUR
ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND WE ALSO
RECOGNIZE THAT TREMENDOUS WORK
LIES AHEAD TO BUILD A HOME AND
COMMUNITY CARE SYSTEM THAT WORKS
FOR ALL CALIFORNIANS. THE ISSUES
FACING OLDER ADULTS, PEOPLE WITH
DISABILITIES AND FAMILY
CAREGIVERS ARE MULTIFACETED,
RESULTING FROM A SYSTEM THAT WAS
BUILT IN SILOS WITHOUT AN EYE
TOWARDS PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE.
THESE SYSTEM LEVEL ISSUES
TRANSLATE TRANSLATE INTO REAL
LIFE ISSUES FOR THE PEOPLE WHO
DEPEND ON THESE PROGRAMS AND
SERVICES TO REMAIN IN THEIR
HOMES AND COMMUNITIES AS THEY
AGE. ACHIEVING MEANINGFUL SYSTEM
CHANGE RELIES ON OUR COLLECTIVE
ABILITY TO ADDRESS FOUR KEY
INTERRELATED ELEMENTS. THE MP A
PROVIDES A FRAMEWORK TO ADVANCE
LONG TERM SERVICES AND SUPPORTS
SYSTEM CHANGE, WHICH I'LL REFER
TO AS L Tð S¼ S¼ THROUGH THESE
FOUR INTERRELATED ELEMENTS. THE
FIRST ELEMENT OF LTS S¼ SYSTEM
CHANGE FOCUSES ON NAVIGATION AND
STREAMLINING ACCESS TO
INFORMATION. FOR MANY
CALIFORNIANS, IT'S OFTEN
DIFFICULT TO FIND THE
INFORMATION NEEDED TO MAKE
INFORMED CHOICES. THIS SYSTEM IS
EXTREMELY FRAGMENTED WITHOUT A
KNOWN PLACE TO GO FOR
INFORMATION AND SUPPORT. PEOPLE
ARE OFTEN LEFT WITHOUT
MEANINGFUL CHOICES, MAKING IT
MORE DIFFICULT TO FIND THE
SERVICES THEY NEED WHEN THEY
NEED THEM. IN RESPONSE, THE MP A
IS DEVELOPING SOLUTIONS TO
STREAMLINE ACCESS TO
INFORMATION. EARLIER THIS MONTH,
CALIFORNIA KICKED OFF THE
STATE'S NÓ WRONGDOER STATE
LEADERSHIP COUNCIL. PART OF THIS
EFFORT ENTAILS PLANNING FOR
STATEWIDE ADOPTION OF A CONTACT
CENTER AND CONSUMER FACING WEB
PORTAL THAT WILL PROVIDE
STREAMLINED ACCESS TO LOCAL,
REGIONAL AND STATEWIDE
INFORMATION. THIS AMBITIOUS BUT
ESSENTIAL EFFORT INCLUDES
PROMOTING SUSTAINABILITY OF
CALIFORNIA'S AGING AND
DISABILITY RESOURCE CONNECTIONS
NETWORK THAT PROVIDES ENHANCED
INFORMATION ASSISTANCE AND
REFERRAL TO LOCAL PROGRAMS AND
SERVICES AT THE COMMUNITY LEVEL.
THE SECOND ELEMENT OF LTS S¼
SYSTEM CHANGE FOCUSES ON
ENHANCING ACCESS TO PROGRAMS AND
SERVICES, INCLUDING AFFORDABLE,
ACCESSIBLE HOUSING IN ALL
COMMUNITIES. CALIFORNIA HAS LONG
BEEN A LEADER IN DEVELOPING HOME
AND COMMUNITY BASED SERVICES SO
THAT PEOPLE CAN REMAIN AT HOME
AND AVOID INSTITUTIONALIZATION.
HOWEVER MANY WHO NEED THESE
SERVICES ARE UNABLE TO ACCESS
THEM, UH, WHETHER DUE TO LACK OF
PROGRAM, ABILI AVAILABILITY SAY
IN RURAL AREAS OR IN OTHER AREAS
OF THE STATE, WHERE THERE ARE
LONG WAITING LISTS FOR OTHER
PROGRAMS. WE NEED TO ENSURE THAT
ALL CALIFORNIANS CAN ACCESS THE
SERVICES THEY NEED WHEN THEY
NEED THEM. THROUGH THE MPA.
CALIFORNIA IS DEVELOPING A HOME
AND COMMUNITY BASED SERVICES,
GAP ANALYSIS AND ROADMAP THAT
WILL SET A PATH FORWARD TO BUILD
OUT THE SERVICE INFRASTRUCTURE.
THIS ENDEAVOR, WHICH IS BEING
LED BY BOTH THE DEPARTMENT OF
HEALTHCARE SERVICES AND THE
DEPARTMENT OF AGING IN
PARTNERSHIP WITH OTHER HEALTH
AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENT UH,
DEPARTMENTS INCLUDES A GAP
ANALYSIS AND ROADMAP FOR THE
HOME AND COMMUNITY BASED
SERVICES PROVIDED THROUGH BOTH
ME AND OUTSIDE OF THE MEDICAL
SYSTEM. ULTIMATELY THIS
INITIATIVE SEEKS TO IMPROVE
ACCESS TO SERVICES STATEWIDE
PRIORITIZING PLANNING FOR
PROGRAMS THAT SERVE
UNDERREPRESENTED POPULATION
POPULATIONS IN UNDERSERVED AREAS
OF THE STATE. PART OF THIS HOME
AND COMMUNITY BASED SERVICES.
UH, GAP ANALYSIS INCLUDES A
FOCUS ON HOUSING ACCESS A KEY TO
ADVANCING THE MASTER PLAN FOR
AGING GOALS IS IDENTIFYING MORE
HOUSING OPTIONS FOR OLDER ADULTS
AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.
THIS NEED IS CRITICAL. WE HAVE
SEEN A 64% INCREASE IN OLDER
ADULT HOMELESSNESS FROM 2017
THROUGH MID 2020 THREE, WHICH
BRINGS GREAT URGENCY TO FOCUS ON
SOLUTIONS. TOGETHER THE HEALTH
AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY AND
THE BUSINESS, CONSUMER SERVICES
AND HOUSING AGENCY ARE
DEVELOPING A MULTI PRONGED
APPROACH TO ADDRESS OLDER ADULT
HOMELESSNESS, INCLUDING
EXAMINING OPTIONS THAT ADDRESS
HOUSING AFFORDABILITY AND SUPPLY
, INSTITUTIONAL TRANSITIONS,
DATA AND SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT AND
TAILORED PROGRAMS AND SERVICES.
JUST RECENTLY, CALIFORNIA WAS
SELECTED TO PARTICIPATE IN A
FEDERAL HOUSING PARTNERSHIP
ACCELERATOR, WHICH WILL FURTHER
OUR COLLABORATIVE WORK ACROSS
AGENCIES TO ADDRESS THE HOUSING
NEEDS OF OUR AGING POPULATION.
ACCESS TO SERVICES ALSO INVOLVES
ADDRESSING THE GROWING EPIDEMIC
OF OLDER ADULT LONELINESS AND
ISOLATION. CHANGING FAMILY
STRUCTURES HAVE, UH, FAMILY
SYSTEMS HAVE EXACERBATED
LONELINESS AND ISOLATION AMONG
OLDER ADULTS. AND PEOPLE OF
COLOR AS WELL AS L. GB Tð Q.
PLUS UH, OLDER ADULTS FACE
UNIQUE CHALLENGES AND BARRIERS
TO ACCESSING BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
SERVICES. THE ADMINISTRATION AND
THE LEGISLATURE'S COMMITMENT TO
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH HAS NEVER BEEN
MORE IMPORTANT. LAST YEAR, THE
STATE BUDGET INVESTED $50
MILLION FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF
AGING TO LEAD AN OLDER ADULT
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH INITIATIVE
THAT FOCUSES ON ADDRESSING
STIGMA THROUGH AN ETHNIC MEDIA
CAMPAIGN FIGHTING ISOLATION BY
EXTENDING THE SUCCESSFUL WORK OF
THE FRIENDSHIP LINE. AND
BUILDING COMMUNITY CAPACITY
THROUGH LOCAL GRANTS TO OUR
COMMUNITY PARTNERS. THE THIRD
ELEMENT OF LTS S¼ SYSTEM CHANGE
CENTERS ON ADDRESSING THE NEEDS
OF OUR PAID AND UNPAID DIRECT
CARE WORKFORCE. ENSURING THAT WE
HAVE THE WORKFORCE NEEDED TO
CARE FOR OUR AGING POPULATION IS
A CRITICAL GOAL OF THE MASTER
PLAN FOR AGING. THIS INCLUDES
SUPPORTING CALIFORNIA'S NEARLY 5
MILLION FAMILY CAREGIVERS WHO
PROV WHO PROVIDE CARE FOR THEIR
PARENTS FOR THEIR SPOUSES FOR
THEIR FRIENDS IN THE COMMUNITY
AS WELL AS THE PAID DIRECT CARE
WORKFORCE THAT PROVIDES THE
CRITICAL HANDS ON CARE IN HOME
COMMUNITY AND CONGREGATE
SETTINGS. OVER THE PAST TWO
YEARS, THE ADMINISTRATION AND
THE LEGISLATURE HAVE INVESTED
$2.5 BILLION TO MEET THE GROWING
NEEDS OF THE DIRECT CARE
WORKFORCE THROUGH TRAINING AND
INCENTIVE PROGRAMS, AS WELL AS
OTHER INITIATIVES THAT BUILD THE
WORKFORCE PIPELINE TO INCREASE
THE NUMBER OF DIRECT CARE
WORKERS NEEDED TO CARE FOR OUR
GROWING AGING POPULATION. AND
FINALLY THE FOURTH ELEMENT TO
LTS S¼ SYSTEM. CHANGE FOCUSES ON
FINANCING AND AFFORDABILITY.
CALIFORNIANS CONFRONT MANY
CHALLENGES IN HOW TO PAY FOR
LONG TERM SERVICES AND SUPPORTS
MEDICARE DOESN'T PAY AND MOST
CALIFORNIANS CANNOT AFFORD TO
PURCHASE PRIVATE, LONG TERM CARE
INSURANCE. SO FOR MOST PEOPLE
PAYING OUT OF POCKET FOR THESE
SERVICES IS COST PROHIBITIVE AND
CREATES A SIGNIFICANT FINANCIAL
AND SOCIAL BURDEN FOR OUR
FAMILIES. THESE SERVICES BRING
HIGH COSTS NOT ONLY TO THE
INDIVIDUALS AND THE FAMILIES BUT
ALSO TO TAXPAYERS AND THE
GOVERNMENT AS MORE PEOPLE
QUICKLY TO DEPLETE THEIR LIMITED
INCOMES TO COVER THE COST OF
CARE. THROUGH THE MASTER PLAN
FOR AGING. THE LEGISLATURE AND
THE ADMINISTRATION INVESTED $5
MILLION FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF
AGING TO LEAD ACROSS AGENCY
INITIATIVE TO SUPPORT DATA AND
RESEARCH OF L Tð S¼ S¼ FINANCING
OPTIONS FOR OLDER ADULTS AND
PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES. THIS
RECENTLY LAUNCHED INITIATIVE
WILL OUTLINE DATA FOCUSED ON THE
CURRENT AND PROJECTED NEEDS OF
CALIFORNIA'S AGING POPULATION
THAT IS CURRENTLY NOT ELIGIBLE
FOR ANY FUNDING OF L Tð S¼ S¼
THROUGH MEDI SO WE CALL THIS
POPULATION. THE MISSING MIDDLE
THIS INITIATIVE WILL ALSO
IDENTIFY A COMPREHENSIVE SET OF
SUSTAINABLE POLICY SOLUTIONS TO
CONSIDER FOR ADDRESSING THE
NEEDS OF THOSE WHO FALL IN THIS
MISSING MIDDLE POPULATION. IN
CONCLUSION BY ADDRESSING THE
FOUR INTERRELATED ELEMENTS OF
MPAS SYSTEM CHANGE FRAMEWORK,
WHICH IS NAVIGATION ACCESS,
WORKFORCE AND FINANCING. WE WILL
CONTINUE TO FIND WAYS TO MEET
THE POPULATION'S NEEDS AND BUILD
A SYSTEM FOR THE FUTURE. WE NÓ
LONGER HAVE THE OPTION OF DOING
ONE OR THE OTHER. A STATE AND
FEDERAL BUDGETS TIGHTEN.
CALIFORNIA IS FORTUNATE TO HAVE
A STRONG STAKEHOLDER FOUNDATION
AND THE MP A FRAMEWORK PUT IN
PLACE BY GOVERNOR NEWSOM, WHICH
WILL GUIDE US IN THE COMING
YEARS. WE LOOK FORWARD TO
WORKING WITH OUR STATE, LOCAL
AND PRIVATE PARTNERS TO CONTINUE
ADVANCING THIS IMPORTANT WORK ON
BEHALF OF CALIFORNIA'S OLDER
ADULTS, PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
AND FAMILY CAREGIVERS. IT'S NOW
MY HONOR TO INTRODUCE KEVIN
PRINDEVILLE WHO WILL TALK ABOUT
THE IMPACT COMMITTEE. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, SARAH. THANK YOU,
MADAM CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR
MATHIS, UM, AND TO THE COMMITTEE
FOR GATHERING US TODAY FOR THIS
IMPORTANT HEARING. I'M KEVIN
PRIN. I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
OF JUSTICE AND AGING. WE'RE A
NATIONAL, UH, NONPROFIT LEGAL
ADVOCACY ORGANIZATION THAT USES
THE POWER OF LAW TO FIGHT SENIOR
POVERTY AND ADVANCE EQUITY FOR
ALL OF US AS WE AGE. UH, WE ARE
A NATIONAL ORGANIZATION. BUT WE
DO A LOT OF SPECIAL WORK IN
CALIFORNIA, BECAUSE, UM, THE
ISSUES HERE ARE SO CRITICALLY
IMPORTANT. I'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN
THE MASTER PLAN FOR AGING SINCE
THE WORK ON THE PLAN BEGAN. I
WAS A MEMBER OF THE ORIGINAL
MASTER PLAN FOR AGING
STAKEHOLDER ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
UH, THAT HELPED DEVELOP THE
PLAN, AND I'M HERE TODAY AS A
MEMBER OF THE IMPACT COMMITTEE
IMPACT STANDS FOR IMPLEMENTING
THE MP. IN CALIFORNIA TOGETHER.
I'M ONE OF 11 MEMBERS OF THE
COMMITTEE AND TOGETHER WE
PROVIDE OVERSIGHT, ADVICE AND
GENERAL FEEDBACK TO THE
DEPARTMENT OF AGING AND CAL HÌ
HÌ S¼ ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF
THE PLAN. WE HAVE QUARTERLY
PUBLIC MEETINGS, AND WE WRITE AN
ANNUAL REPORT PROVIDING FEEDBACK
TO èC Dð A ON MP A
IMPLEMENTATION. THAT REPORT WILL
BE READY BY APRIL. 25TH, I THINK
IS OUR NEXT PUBLIC MEETING. IT'S
BEEN A TREMENDOUS OPPORTUNITY
AND CHALLENGE TO WORK ON THE MP
A AND I'M REALLY PROUD OF WHAT
THE STATE HAS BEEN ABLE TO
ACCOMPLISH SINCE THIS WORK
BEGAN, UH, OVER 4.5 YEARS AGO,
UM, FROM MY VIEW AS THE
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF A NATIONAL
ORGANIZATION, I CAN ALSO ATTEST
TO THE COMMENTS THAT WERE MADE
BY OTHERS THAT CALIFORNIA HAS
REALLY TRULY BECOME A LEADER ON
AGING ISSUES THAT OTHER STATES
AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ARE
LOOKING TO. AND TODAY I'M GONNA
TALK TO YOU ABOUT THREE THINGS.
I'M GONNA CELEBRATE SOME
SUCCESSES OF THE MASTER PLAN FOR
AGING TO DATE. I'M GONNA IMPLORE
YOU ALL AT THE LEGISLATURE AND
THE GOVERNOR TO PROTECT THESE
SUCCESSES, EVEN AS THE STATE'S
FISCAL SITUATION HAS CHANGED,
AND I'M GONNA ASK YOU AS THE
LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR TO
DIRECT YOUR FOCUS AS WE MOVE
FORWARD ON THE MP, A TO TWO
AREAS, HOME CARE AND ELDER
HOMELESSNESS. SO FIRST TO TOUCH
ON SUCCESSES. UH THE FIRST THREE
YEARS OF THE N P A HAS BEEN
FULL OF, UH, JUST A TREMENDOUS
FLOOD OF ACTIVITY THAT YOU'VE
HEARD ABOUT FROM, UH, COLLEAGUES
UP HERE TODAY, THERE'S BEEN MANY
INITIATIVES SPREAD ACROSS MANY
AGENCIES AND DEPARTMENTS THAT
MOVE FORWARD. EACH OF THE GOALS
IDENTIFIED IN THE MP A. IT'S
HARD TO KEEP TRACK OF IT FOR US
ON THE OUTSIDE, AND I'M SURE
IT'S DIFFICULT, UH, TO MANAGE
FOR THOSE THAT ARE WORKING, UM
IN èC Dð A AND ACROSS THE
GOVERNMENT TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.
THIS ACTIVITY COMBINED WITH A
GOOD BUDGET, THE LAST OF YEARS
LED TO, UH EXPANDED EXISTING AND
CREATION OF NEW PROGRAMS THAT
CREATED REAL LIFE TANGIBLE
BENEFITS IN THE LIVES OF TENS TO
HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF OLDER
ADULTS ACROSS CALIFORNIA. UH,
FOR EXAMPLE, THE STATE MADE
HEALTH CARE MORE AFFORDABLE, UH,
BY EXPANDING MEDICAL COVERAGE TO
UNDOCUMENTED OLDER ADULTS BY
INCREASING THE INCOME LIMIT FOR
THE MEDICAL PROGRAM IN BECOMING
THE FIRST STATE IN THE COUNTRY
TO LIFT THE ASSET TEST FOR MEDI
SERVICES FOR OLDER ADULTS AND
PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES. THAT
NEED THAT ACCESS TO LONG TERM
CARE THAT SARAH TALKED ABOUT.
THE STATE HAS INCREASED ECONOMIC
SECURITY OF THE POOREST OLDER
ADULTS BY INCREASING THE S¼ S¼ P
FOR PEOPLE ON S¼ S¼ I, THE STATE
HAS CREATED TEMPORARY WORKER
SUPPORT PROGRAMS TO, UH, TO
STRENGTHEN OUR CAREGIVER
WORKFORCE IN THE STATE AND THE
STATE TEMPORARILY EXPANDED
FUNDING FOR A WIDE VARIETY OF
AGING SERVICES. UM, SO SOME REAL
BENEFITS THAT HAVE IMPACTED
FAMILIES, POCKETBOOKS AND THEIR
ABILITY TO AFFORD LIVING IN
CALIFORNIA. UM SO THESE ARE REAL
IMPORTANT, UM, MEASURES FOR US
TO CELEBRATE. UM AND AS I
MENTIONED A MINUTE AGO, THESE
EXPANSIONS AND NEW PROGRAMS WERE
POSSIBLE BECAUSE OF THE STATE'S
POSITIVE BUDGET SITUATION, ONE
THAT INCLUDED SURPLUSES AS WELL
AS ONE TIME FEDERAL FUNDS AND
THE IMPACT COMMITTEE AND AT
JUSTICE AND AGING. WE UNDERSTAND
THAT THE FISCAL CONDITION OF THE
STATE HAS CHANGED. UH, THE MP A
WAS CREATED AS A ROAD MAP TO
GUIDE THE STATE NOT JUST WHEN
THE BUDGET WAS UP, BUT ALSO WHEN
THE BUDGET WAS DOWN. SO IN
PREVIOUS FISCAL DOWNTURNS, THESE
PROGRAMS THAT I'M TALKING ABOUT
IN THESE COMMUNITIES THAT WE
REPRESENT, UH, THIS IS OFTEN
WHERE THE FIRST CUTS WERE MADE.
THEY WERE MADE TO PROGRAMS THAT
OLDER ADULTS AND PEOPLE WITH
DISABILITIES RELIED ON HOME AND
COMMUNITY BASED SERVICES, LONG
TERM SERVICES AND SUPPORTS
CAREGIVER RESOURCE CENTERS.
OTHER SAFETY NET PROGRAMS THAT
MILLIONS OF FAMILIES RELY ON
ACROSS CALIFORNIA. SO WE'RE
THANKFUL TO SEE THAT SO FAR NÓ
SEVERE CUTS TO THOSE CORE
SERVICES HAVE BEEN PROPOSED IN
THE GOVERNOR'S JANUARY BUDGET.
AND WE REALLY IMPLORE UM, THE
GOVERNOR AND THE LEGISLATURE AS
YOU GET MORE INFORMATION ABOUT
THE STATE'S BUDGET SITUATION TO
MAINTAIN YOUR COMMITMENT TO
SERVICES FOR OLDER ADULTS AND
PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES AND TO
REFUSE TO BALANCE THE BUDGET ON
THE BACKS OF OLDER ADULTS,
PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES AND
THEIR FAMILIES. WITH 2030
RAPIDLY APPROACHING, THE STATE
NEEDS TO DEEPEN AND CERTAINLY
NOT PULL BACK FROM ITS
INVESTMENT IN AN ATTENTION TO
CALIFORNIA'S GROWING AGING
POPULATION. SO NOW LOOKING AHEAD
SOME, UM AS WE ENTER THE FOURTH
YEAR OF IMPLEMENTATION OF THE
PLAN. WE'RE AT REALLY A CRITICAL
TRANSITION POINT. THIS IS A 10
YEAR PLAN. SO YEAR FOUR
REPRESENTS WE'RE NOW SQUARELY IN
THE MIDDLE OF THE PLAN. UM, IF
WE WERE IN OUR SIXTIES, WE'D BE
SAYING THAT WE'RE IN OUR MID
SIXTIES. NOW NOT OUR EARLY
SIXTIES OR OUR LATE SIXTIES. UM,
SO IT'S TIME FOR US TO START
THINKING SERIOUSLY ABOUT WHERE
WE WANNA BE AS A STATE BY 2030
TO ASK WHETHER WE ARE ON TRACK
TO GET THERE AND TO DETERMINE
WITH CLARITY. WHAT ADDITIONAL
STEPS NEED TO BE TAKEN TO GET US
FROM WHERE WE ARE NOW TO WHERE
WE NEED TO BE. THE IMPACT
COMMITTEE HAS IDENTIFIED TWO
ISSUES THAT NEED SPECIAL FOCUS
RIGHT NOW, IN ORDER TO GET US TO
WHERE WE WANT TO BE IN 2030. IN
EACH OF THESE, AND THOSE TWO
AREAS ARE HOME CARE AND ELDER
HOMELESSNESS AND IN EACH OF
THESE AREAS, EQUITY AND THE
NEEDS OF UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES
LIKE THOSE YOU MENTIONED AT THE
START OF THE HEARING, MADAM
CHAIR NEED TO BE AT THE CENTER
OF THE WORK THAT WE DO. WE'RE
NOT SUGGESTING THAT WORK ON
OTHER INITIATIVES OR GOALS STOP,
BUT WE ARE CALLING ON THE
ADMINISTRATION AND THE
LEGISLATURE TO REALLY FOCUS ON
ENSURING TRANSFORMATION.
TRANSFORMATIVE CHANGE IN THESE
AREAS IN TRANSFORMATIVE CHANGE
REQUIRES SETTING SPECIFIC GOALS
OF WHERE WE WANNA BE BY 2030
CHARTING A CLEAR PATH YEAR BY
YEAR FOR HOW WE'RE GOING TO GET
FROM HERE TO THERE. I'D LIKE TO
SPEAK JUST BRIEFLY ABOUT EACH OF
THESE TWO ISSUES. THE FIRST HOME
CARE AND I'M USING THE TERM HOME
CARE TO BE INCLUSIVE OF THE
BROAD ARRAY OF SUPPORTS THAT
PEOPLE NEED TO STAY AT HOME AND
IN THEIR COMMUNITIES TO MEET
THEIR LONG TERM CARE NEEDS FOR
THE MP A TO BE SUCCESSFUL, IT'S
CRITICAL THAT WE BUILD A HOME
CARE AND COMMUNITY CARE SYSTEM
THAT WORKS FOR ALL CALIFORNIANS.
THE MAJORITY OF OLDER ADULTS AND
PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES WANT TO
LIVE AT HOME AND IN COMMUNITY
EVEN AS THEIR NEEDS CHANGE OVER
TIME, BUT CALIFORNIA LACKS A
CLEARLY AFFORDABLE, INCLUSIVE
AND EQUITABLE SYSTEM TO SUPPORT
THEM RIGHT NOW, TOO MANY
FAMILIES ARE SITTING AROUND
KITCHEN TABLES PANICKED ABOUT
HOW THEY'RE GONNA MEET THE CARE
NEEDS OF THEIR OLDER FAMILY
MEMBERS. I JUST LIVED THROUGH
THIS IN MY OWN FAMILY. MANY
PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY THOSE WITH
COMPLEX NEEDS, AND PEOPLE OF
COLOR ARE FORCED TO RECEIVE
THEIR CARE IN INSTITUTIONAL
SETTINGS LIKE NURSING FACILITIES
DOESN'T HAVE TO BE THAT WAY.
WITH SYSTEMS CHANGE AND ADEQUATE
FUNDING. CALIFORNIA CAN BUILD A
SYSTEM WHERE EVERYONE CAN AFFORD
THE CARE. THEY NEED A SYSTEM
THAT IS EASY TO NAVIGATE A
SYSTEM WHERE SERVICES ARE
ACCESSIBLE TO TIME AND IN THE
SETTINGS. PEOPLE PREFER A SYSTEM
WHERE THOSE PROVIDING CARE BOTH
PAID AND UNPAID CAREGIVERS ARE
TREATED WITH HONOR, DIGNITY AND
THE RESPECT THAT THEY DESERVE.
AND YOU HEARD SARAH TALK ABOUT
MANY OF THESE SAME ISSUES. NOW
WE REALIZE THERE'S NOT FUNDING
AVAILABLE IN THE CURRENT BUDGET
TO DO THIS, BUT WE ALSO REALIZE
THAT THERE'S NOT SUDDENLY GONNA
BE FUNDING. NEXT YEAR OR THE
YEAR AFTER THAT. IF WE'RE NOT
MAKING A PLAN FOR IT, WE NEED TO
BE WORKING NOW TO CREATE AND
EXECUTE A PLAN THAT GENERATES
THE REVENUE. WE NEED TO TAKE
CARE OF OUR FAMILIES. HOME CARE
AND HOME CARE FINANCING MUST BE
A FOCUS OF THE MP A UM AND THE
GOVERNOR AND THE LEGISLATURE
NEED TO BE FOCUSED ON THAT. NOW,
IF WE'RE GONNA BE WHERE WE WANNA
BE IN 2030 THE OTHER ISSUE I
TALKED ABOUT IS ELDER
HOMELESSNESS AS YOU'VE SURE AS
I'M SURE YOU'VE HEARD US SAY, AS
WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS
FOR YEARS NOW OLDER ADULTS ARE
STILL THE FASTEST GROWING PART
OF THE HOMELESS POPULATION IN
THE STATE. IN SOME COUNTIES,
OLDER ADULTS NOW MAKE UP HALF OF
THE HOMELESS POPULATION AND
SIGNIFICANT NUMBERS OF OLDER
ADULTS WHO ARE HOMELESS,
EXPERIENCED HOMELESSNESS FOR THE
FIRST TIME AFTER AGE 50. THE
NUMBER OF HOMELESS OLDER ADULTS
IN CALIFORNIA IS A TRAGEDY. IT'S
A PREVENTABLE TRAGEDY. WE CAN
FIX THIS. WE HAVE TO FIX THIS
PROBLEM. WE NEED DEDICATED
ATTENTION. DEDICATED STRATEGIES,
DEDICATED FUNDING FOR OLDER
ADULTS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS
, AND UNFORTUNATELY, DESPITE THE
ACTIVITY THAT'S HAPPENED IN THE
N P, A AROUND HOMELESSNESS, WE
HAVEN'T SEEN ENOUGH RESULTS YET
ON THE GROUND. WE'RE CALLING FOR
MORE ACTION AT THE STATE LEVEL
TO ADVANCE THE ONE INTERVENTION
THAT WE THINK WOULD BE MOST
EFFECTIVE AT ADDRESSING ELDER
HOMELESSNESS, WHICH IS A
TARGETED RENTAL SUBSIDY PROGRAM.
WE'VE SEEN SUCCESS WITH THIS
MODEL IN MANY LOCAL
JURISDICTIONS, AND WE NEED A
STATEWIDE STRATEGY AND APPROACH
NOW. SO HERE WE IMPLORE THE
GOVERNOR AND THE LEGISLATURE TO
USE THIS NEXT PHASE OF THE MP TO
SET SPECIFIC GOALS FOR ENDING
ELDER HOMELESSNESS BY 2030 FOR
IDENTIFYING THE STEPS WE WILL
TAKE OVER THE NEXT 1 TO 2 YEARS
TO DEVELOP A STATEWIDE TARGETED
RENTAL SUBSIDY PROGRAM FOR OLDER
ADULTS AND PEOPLE WITH
DISABILITIES. AS YOU'VE HEARD
THROUGHOUT OUR MP A PROCESS AND
I DON'T THINK WE'VE MENTIONED IT
AGAIN TODAY. BUT 30% OF
CALIFORNIA'S POPULATION WILL BE
65 AND OVER IN 2030. 30% OF THE
POPULATION IN NOW, JUST SIX
YEARS. THE MP GIVES US A PATH
FORWARD AND A VEHICLE FOR
NAVIGATING THE CHALLENGES AND
OPPORTUNITIES THAT COME WITH
THAT. BUT NOW, NEARLY HALFWAY
THROUGH THE PLAN, WE HAVE TO
TAKE STOCK AND TURN OUR
ATTENTION AND FOCUS TO THE MOST
CRITICAL ISSUES IN FRONT OF US
AND IN FRONT OF FAMILIES ACROSS
THE STATE, HOME CARE AND ELDER
HOMELESSNESS, JUST AS AN AGENT
IN THE IMPACT COMMITTEE LOOK
FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU ALL
TO BRING THAT FOCUS THAT WE NEED
TO ACHIEVE TRANSFORMATIONAL
CHANGE ENVISIONED BY THE MP A
AND TO BRING THE
TRANSFORMATIONAL CHANGE THAT OUR
FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES ARE
EXPECTING OF US. THANK YOU. UM,
GOOD AFTERNOON,ÄDAM
MEMBERS. UM VICTORIA JUMP WITH
THE I WORK FOR THE COUNTY OF
VENTURA HUMAN SERVICE AGENCY AND
IN MY ROLE THERE, UM, I OVERSEE
ALL AGING AND DISABILITY
PROGRAMS, WHICH INCLUDE I HÌ S¼
S¼ A P S¼. PUBLIC ADMINISTRATOR.
PUBLIC GUARDIAN. SORRY PUBLIC
AUTHORITY, UM BUT ALSO THE AREA
AGENCY ON AGING PROGRAMS. SO
AREA AGENCIES ON AGING HAVE BEEN
GOVERNED BY A SET OF RULES,
FUNDING FORMULAS AND PROGRAMS
FOR THE LAST 50 YEARS AS THE
ONLY PURPOSELY BUILT NATIONAL
DELIVERY SYSTEM FOR OLDER ADULTS
. WE HAVE PROVIDED SERVICES THAT
KEEP OLDER ADULTS OUT OF IN HOME
AND OUT OF INSTITUTIONS. WE
PROVIDE HOME HOME, DELIVER MEALS
, CONGREGATE DINING MEALS, CASE
MANAGEMENT RIDES TO DOCTOR'S
APPOINTMENTS, PERSONAL CARE
ASSISTANCE, HELP WITH CHORES.
MODIFICATION SUPPORTS FOR FAMILY
CAREGIVERS AND MORE STATE
INVESTMENTS HAVE ALLOWED US TO
EXPAND SERVICES TO MORE PEOPLE.
DESPITE ALL OF THIS, IT'S STILL
NOT ENOUGH. WE ARE FACING A
SIGNIFICANT GROWTH IN THE
POPULATION OF OLDER ADULTS AND
DO NOT HAVE THE RESOURCES
PROGRAMS OR POLICIES IN PLACE TO
BE ABLE TO MEET. THE CURRENT
NEEDS, LET ALONE THE FUTURE
NEEDS. WE HAVE EXPERIENCED
INCREASES IN NONWHITE AND MIXED
RACE CALIFORNIANS. WHICH REQUIRE
MORE SERVICE PROVIDERS TO BE
BICULTURAL AND BILINGUAL. MORE
CALIFORNIANS LIVE ALONE AND
THERE IS A SHRINKING BIRTH RATE,
CONTRIBUTING TO THE SHORT AND
LONG TERM CHALLENGES OF PAID AND
UN PAID CARE PROVISION FOR OLDER
ADULTS AND PUBLIC FUNDING FOR
PROGRAMS. CALIFORNIA 2030 IS OUR
OPPORTUNITY. IT'S ABOUT THE
MILLIONS OF CALIFORNIANS WHO
STRUGGLE TO MAKE ENDS MEET. IT'S
ABOUT THEIR CAREGIVERS WHO ARE
OVERWHELMED AND DON'T KNOW WHERE
TO GO FOR HELP. IT'S ABOUT OUR
RESIDENTS WHO LIVE IN RURAL
AREAS WHERE THERE ARE LIMITED OR
NON EXISTENT SERVICES. IT'S
ABOUT A NETWORK OF 30. THREE
AREA AGENCIES ON AGING, CREATED
OVER 50 YEARS AGO THAT HAVE
EVOLVED BUT ALSO A NETWORK THAT
WAS NEVER DESIGNED. IN THE FALL
OF 2022. THE CALIFORNIA
DEPARTMENT OF AGING CONVENED THE
CALIFORNIA 2030 STEERING
COMMITTEE. COMPRISED OF 11
REPRESENTATIVES THAT INCLUDED
AREA AGENCIES ON AGING.
INDEPENDENT LIVING RESOURCE
CENTERS. COUNTY SUPERVISORS.
CALIFORNIA WELFARE DIRECTORS
CALIFORNIA STATE ASSOCIATION OF
COUNTY AMONGST OTHER
REPRESENTATIVES. THE ROLE OF THE
STEERING COMMITTEE WAS TO ADVISE
ON THE DEFINITION OF AND
RESEARCH AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR
WHAT A FUTURE READY. CALIFORNIA
LOOKS LIKE. WHILE THE MASTER
PLAN ON AGING IS FAR REACHING
AND MULTI SECTOR CALIFORNIA 2030
SUPPORTS THE MASTER PLAN AND
INTENTIONALLY PLANNING FOR THE
STRENGTHENING OF OUR NETWORK OF
AREA AGENCIES ON AGING. WHO WE
WERE DESIGNING THE SYSTEM FOR
WAS CENTRAL TO THE PROCESS.
OLDER ADULTS. PEOPLE WITH
DISABILITIES AND CAREGIVERS WERE
ALWAYS FRONT AND CENTER. THIS IS
NOT ABOUT èC, Dð OR EVEN
INDIVIDUAL AAA S¼, BUT ABOUT THE
PEOPLE THAT NEED THE HELP THAT
ARE NOT GETTING IT. AND HOW CAN
WE DESIGN A SYSTEM FOR THEM
WHERE THEY GET ALL OF THE
RESOURCES AND CONNECTIONS TO
SERVICES THAT THEY NEED THE
FIRST TIME THEY COME THROUGH THE
DOOR AND NOT MAKE THEM GO
THROUGH THE DOOR OVER AND OVER
AND OVER AGAIN? A TREMENDOUS
AMOUNT OF RESEARCH WAS DONE,
INCLUDING INTERVIEWING 100 AND
62. AAA STAFF MEMBERS 80
EXTERNAL STAKEHOLDERS AND
CONDUCTING A STATEWIDE NEEDS
ASSESSMENT. WE'RE OVER 17,000
PEOPLE PARTICIPATED. QUALITATIVE
AND QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH WAS
CORE OF THE PROJECT IN AREAS OF
FOCUS INCLUDED GEOGRAPHY,
GOVERNANCE PROGRAMS AND SERVICES
. KEY PERFORMANCE MEASURES,
FUNDING, MARKETING, BRANDING AND
COMMUNICATION. SO SOME OF THE
FINDINGS IN THE REPORT AND THE
PLAN THE NEEDS OF OLDER ADULTS.
PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES AND
FAMILY CAREGIVERS ARE VERY
DIFFERENT FROM GENERATIONS PAST.
PEOPLE CARRY DIFFERENT LIFE
EXPERIENCES, ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL
NEEDS CULTURAL PREFERENCES.
CONSUMER EXPECTATIONS THE INCOME
GAP BETWEEN HIGH AND LOW INCOME
RESIDENTS IN OUR STATE CONTINUES
TO WIDEN. THE HEALTH SECTOR HAS
EVOLVED AND NOW DEMANDS MORE
INTEGRATION WITH SOCIAL
SERVICES. PUBLIC PERCEPTIONS OF
AGING AND DISABILITY, WHILE
IMPROVING ARE STILL RIDDLED WITH
NEGATIVE STEREOTYPES. WITH THE
ADVANCEMENT OF NEW TECHNOLOGIES,
GROWTH OF VALUE BASED AND
MANAGED CARE SERVICES. WIDENING
ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL DISPARITIES
AND ELEVATED CONSUMER
EXPECTATIONS FOR QUALITY
SERVICES. THE CALIFORNIA AGING
NETWORK MUST PREPARE FOR AND
SITUATE ITSELF WITHIN A MORE
COMPLEX, INTEGRATED AND
DEMANDING ENVIRONMENT. SO DURING
THE INTERVIEWS WITH THE
STAKEHOLDERS, KEY INFORMANT IN
SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS WHEN
ASKED, WHAT A REALLY AN IDEAL
FUTURE READY CALIFORNIA AGING
NETWORK LOOK LIKE THE FOLLOWING
TRAITS EMERGED. IT MUST BE AGING
AND DISABILITY FOCUSED FORWARD.
THE NETWORK MUST UNDERSTAND
PREVENT COMBAT NEGATIVE
STEREOTYPES ASSOCIATED WITH
AGING AND DISABILITY BY
PROMOTING POSITIVE IMAGES AND
STRENGTHS OF ALL PEOPLE. IT
NEEDS TO BE INCLUSIVE AND
EQUITABLE. IT MUST ADDRESS
AGEISM, ABLEISM RACISM AND
IMPLICIT BIAS. WILL MANAGE
RESOURCES AND PROGRAMS TO MEET
OUR CALIFORNIA'S EVOLVING NEEDS,
ENSURING EQUITABLE DISTRIBUTION
AND REACH ACROSS PROGRAMS, A
POPULATIONS IN RURAL AND
ISOLATED GEOGRAPHIES. IT NEEDS
TO BE WELL KNOWN AND ACCESSIBLE.
IT WILL BE VISIBLE, RECOGNIZED
AND ACCESSIBLE TO ALL
CALIFORNIANS. IT HAS TO BE
CONSISTENT. IT WILL PROVIDE A
RELIABLE STANDARD OF QUALITY AND
CORE SERVICES ACROSS THE STATE.
IT SHOULDN'T MATTER WHERE YOU
LIVE, YOU SHOULD GET THE SAME
LEVEL OF SERVICE ACROSS THE
STATE. IT MUST BE LOCALLY
RESPONSIVE. IT NEEDS TO ADAPT
AND DEVELOP POLICY SERVICES
PRACTICES AND PROGRAMS TO
ADDRESS COMMUNITY SPECIFIC NEEDS
AS WELL AS OPPORTUNITIES. IT
SHOULD BE STRATEGIC IN ACTION
ORIENTED. IT INVESTS IN AND
RELIES ON LEADERS TO ANTICIPATE
AND RESPOND TO INTERNAL AND
EXTERNAL OPPORTUNITIES AND
THREATS BY LEVERAGING THE
STRENGTHS OF THEIR STAKEHOLDERS,
COMMUNITIES, PARTNERS AND
AGENCIES. IT NEEDS TO BE
PERFORMANCE BASED AND OUTCOME
DRIVEN. DEMONSTRATES THE VALUE
AND IMPACT OF PROGRAMS AND
SERVICES BY MEASURING AND
MONITORING PERFORMANCE AND
DEMONSTRATING THE SOCIAL HEALTH
AND ECONOMIC OUTCOMES AND
RESULTS AND INVESTMENTS. IT ALSO
HAS TO BE INTEGRATED. IT
CONNECTS THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE
STAKEHOLDERS SPANNING THE
CONTINUUM OF HUMAN SERVICES.
HEALTHCARE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
PUBLIC HEALTH, SERVING AS THE
TRUSTED AGING SERVICES RESOURCE.
ADVOCATE AND ALLY. SO THE 2030
BLUEPRINT CONTAINS MANY
RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WILL TAKE
YEARS TO REALIZE IN ALL ARE
CENTERED AROUND MOVING US
TOWARDS THE TRAITS OF THIS IDEAL
NETWORK. RECOMMENDATIONS FALL
WITHIN THE FOLLOWING CATEGORIES.
THERE'S RECOMMENDATIONS RELATED
TO STRATEGIC PLANNING AND WHAT
THAT LOOKS LIKE SERVICES.
COMMUNICATIONS. PLANNING AND
SERVICE AREA DESIGNATIONS, DATA
AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY.
WORKFORCE. ADVOCACY AND FUNDING
AND I LIKE TO HIDE THAT
HIGHLIGHT THE FUNDING CATEGORY,
WHICH IS CRITICAL. THE EXISTING
NETWORK AS IT STANDS IS AT
CAPACITY AT THIS TIME.
UNFORTUNATELY WHERE YOU LIVE
DOES DEPEND UPON WHAT SERVICES
ARE AVAILABLE FOR YOU, THE BOTH
THE BEST AND MOST WELL
INTENTIONED STRATEGIC PLANNING
CAN BE DONE. WE CAN ALL DECIDE
ON A CORE SET OF SERVICES SO
THAT THERE IS CONSISTENCY ACROSS
COUNTIES, AND WE CAN INCREASE
MARKETING SO THAT PEOPLE ARE
AWARE OF OUR SERVICES. BUT
UNLESS WE ADDRESS FUNDING ISSUES
, WE WILL BE SPINNING OUR
WHEELS. FUNDING IS CRITICAL AND
MUST GO. IN HAND WITH THE OTHER
CHANGES AS WE COLLECTIVELY
TRANSFORM THE SYSTEM. IT HAS
BEEN MY PRIVILEGE TO PARTICIPATE
IN THE CALIFORNIA 2030 PLAN, AND
I THINK THE DEPARTMENT AND THE
ADMINISTRATION FOR BEING FORWARD
THINKING AND INCLUSIVE IN THE
PROCESS AND ALWAYS KEEPING THAT
CUSTOMER IN MIND. CHANGE IS
HARD. AND TO FULLY REALIZE THE
PLAN. IT'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF
WORK. EVERYONE MAY NOT AGREE
WITH ALL OF THE OBJECTIVES OR
THE ORDER IN WHICH THE STATE
CARRIES THEM OUT, WHICH IS OK.
WHAT I DO KNOW FROM DOING THIS
WORK FOR THE LAST 25 YEARS. IS
THAT CHANGE IS NEEDED. WE CANNOT
KEEP DOING THE SAME THINGS AS WE
HAVE FOR THE LAST 50 YEARS WITH
THE SAME RESOURCES AND EXPECT
DIFFERENT RESULTS. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. CAN YOU HEAR
ME? OK PERFECT. THANK YOU, UM,
FOR ALL THE SPEAKERS FOR ALL OF
THE INFORMATION THAT WAS GIVEN
ONE OF THE BIGGEST CONCERNS THAT
I'M SEEING SPECIFICALLY IN MY
COUNTY IS SUPPORT FOR I HÌ S¼ S¼
WORKERS. UM, WHAT'S HAPPENING
RIGHT NOW IS THE BALL IS IN THE
COUNTY. THE COUNTY IS SAYING NÓ.
THIS IS A STATE PROBLEM. NÓ THE
STATE SAYING NÓ. THIS IS A
COUNTY PROBLEM. COUNTY IS NOT
DOING THEIR JOB STATE NOT DOING
THE JOB AND RESPONSE IS, LET'S
JUST INCREASE THE FEES ON THE
COUNTIES AND COUNTIES RESPONSES.
I DON'T CARE. I'LL JUST PAY THE
FEES. SO THIS IS A HUGE PROBLEM.
AND HOW DO WE GET BEHIND? ON
SOLVING THIS PROBLEM. WE CAN'T
CONTINUE PROVIDING BANDAIDS. I
JUST AS WORKERS, WHICH ARE OUR
WORKFORCE FOR TAKING CARE OF OUR
ELDERLY OR PEOPLE WITH
DISABILITIES. IT'S VERY HARD
WORK. I WAS A PRIMARY CAREGIVER
MYSELF OR MY GRANDMOTHER. THEY
DESERVE TO BE PAID. WHAT FOR ME
FORECASTING AS A PHYSICIAN. THIS
IS OF UTMOST PRIORITY FOR NOT
JUST US, BUT EVERYONE IN
CALIFORNIA TO MAKE SURE THAT WE
DO EVERYTHING THAT WE CAN TO
INCENTIVIZE AND TAKE CARE OF OUR
I S¼ S¼ AND CAREGIVERS. NOT JUST
THAT, MAKING SURE THAT THOSE
CAREGIVERS AT HOME HAVE THE
TRAINING THAT STANDARDIZED
THROUGHOUT ALL CAREGIVERS. AS A
PHYSICIAN, I CAN WRITE EVERY
PRESCRIPTION BUT WILL THAT
PATIENT GO AND GET THE CARE THAT
THEY NEED AT HOME TO BE ABLE TO
FULFILL THE PRESCRIPTION THAT I
WROTE? UM I CAN DO EVERYTHING I
CAN IN THAT 15 MINUTE, SOMETIMES
TWO MINUTE DOCTOR VISIT, BUT IF
THERE'S NOBODY AT HOME,
PROVIDING A SUPPORT SERVICE, AND
THE STATE'S NOT DOING THE MOST
THAT IT CAN TO MAKE SURE THAT
THAT IS IN PLACE. WHAT ARE WE
GONNA DO? 2030 LOOKS REALLY
BLEAK FOR ME, GUYS. AND THAT'S A
BIG CONCERN. HOW DO WE GET
BEHIND THIS AND SOLVE THIS
PROBLEM? CAUSE FOR MY EYES AS A
PHYSICIAN, THIS IS THE BIGGEST
PROBLEM THAT WE WILL BE DEALING
WITH IN THE SPACE OF AGING AND
LONG TERM CARE. I CAN. SUZANNE
DE MORRIS, DIRECTOR OF
CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF AGING,
UM, OUR COLLEAGUES AT THE
DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES.
RUN THE IN HOME SUPPORTIVE
SERVICES PROGRAM, AND WE HEARD
FROM SARAH STEEN HAUSEN THAT ONE
OF THE INITIATIVES, UM, THAT'S
BEEN FUNDED THROUGH. UM IN THE
PAST TWO YEARS IS THE I HÌ S¼ S¼
CAREER PATHWAYS PROGRAM, WHICH
HAS BEEN A TREMENDOUS
OPPORTUNITY FOR TRAINING AND
INCENTIVES FOR I HÌ S¼ S¼
WORKERS. UM, WE'RE QUITE PROUD
OF THAT. IN THE AS WE HEARD FROM
KEVIN PRENDEVILLE ABOUT A HOME
CARE SYSTEM THAT WORKS FOR
EVERYONE. I HÌ S¼ S¼ IS
ABSOLUTELY A KEY. STONE OF A
HOME CARE SYSTEM AS WELL AS
PRIVATELY FUNDED HOME CARE, HOME
HEALTH AND OTHERS. UM I THINK
THAT, UH, VICTORIA, UM, HAS A
LOT TO CONTRIBUTE ON THIS TOPIC
RUNNING RUNNING THE PROGRAM IN
VENTURA COUNTY. SO IT'S A IT'S A
COMPLICATED, UM, ISSUE IT IS. UM
SO I. I ADMINISTER BOTH ITS S¼
AND THE PUBLIC AUTHORITY. AND I
UNDERSTAND LIKE YOUR YOUR
QUESTION REALLY IS ABOUT THE
COLLECTIVE BARGAINING THAT IF
YOU DON'T SETTLE WITH THE
UNIONS, AND YOU HAVE TO PAY A
HIGHER BE, I GUESS. A PENALTY.
UM RIGHT NOW, AS YOU'RE AWARE
THAT THE STATE PAYS A CERTAIN
AMOUNT STATEWIDE. FOR THE I S¼
S¼ WORKER BENEFITS. UM, ANYTHING
ABOVE THAT. IS UP TO THE COUNTY.
TO PAY AND DEPENDING UPON HOW
MANY YOU KNOW INDIVIDUALS THAT
YOU HAVE IN THE NUMBER OF HOURS
IT BECOMES A VERY COSTLY FOR THE
COUNTIES TO DO THE RIGHT THING
AND TO PROVIDE, UM ENOUGH HOUR
AND ENOUGH ENOUGH WORKERS, UM,
FROM THE YOU KNOW, PUBLIC
AUTHORITY SIDE. UM, IT'S YOU
KNOW, IT'S A CHALLENGE DUE TO
THE YOU KNOW THE WAGES WHEN
WE'RE IN A WE'RE IN A SITUATION
NOW WHERE YOU KNOW CERTAIN
CLASSES OF WORKERS. LET'S SAY
LIKE FAST FOOD WORKERS, FOR
EXAMPLE. NOW MAKE MORE THAN I HÌ
S¼ S¼ WORKERS, UM, WHICH WHICH
IS DRAWING PEOPLE AWAY FROM AN
EXISTING SMALL WORKFORCE. THE
PEOPLE THAT ARE CALLED TO DO
THIS YOU KNOW, THEY'RE NOT.
THEY'RE NOT IN IT FOR THE MONEY.
OBVIOUSLY THEY WOULDN'T BE THERE
. UM BUT THEY NEED TO PAY THEIR
BILLS, AND SOMETIMES IT'S
DIFFICULT. THEY CAN'T WORK AS
MANY HOURS AS THEY WANT, BECAUSE
THEY NEED TO GO TO A JOB THAT'S
GONNA PAY. THAT'S GONNA PAY MORE
. UM YOU KNOW, FROM WHERE, YOU
KNOW FROM WHERE I SIT, UM MOST
OF THE WORKERS ARE, YOU KNOW
WOMEN AND MINORITIES. UM,
THEY'RE LOW INCOME. BECAUSE OF
WHAT WE'RE PAYING THEM, UM
THEY'RE NOT. YOU KNOW, THERE ARE
NÓ, YOU KNOW, STATEWIDE HEALTH
BENEFITS? THERE ARE NÓ PENSION
PLAN. UM, SO WE'RE ASKING PEOPLE
TO DELAY THEIR OWN. YOU KNOW
FINANCIAL FUTURE RIGHT? BECAUSE
THEY COULD BE WORKING IN A
HIGHER PAYING JOB AND
POTENTIALLY PAYING INTO
SOMETHING THAT IN THE END OF
THEIR YOU KNOW WHEN THEY RETIRE,
THEY GET BENEFITS. BUT THEY'RE
NOT DOING THAT BECAUSE THEY'RE
TAKING CARE OF THEIR FAMILY. AND
SO WE'RE JUST CREATING A, YOU
KNOW. ONGOING YOU KNOW,
POTENTIAL ISSUE WHERE THESE SAME
PEOPLE ARE HELPING NOW, BUT
THEY'RE GONNA BE OUR
PARTICIPANTS IN THE FUTURE
BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE THE
MONEY TO GET OUT OF IT. UM, FROM
YOU KNOW MY PERSPECTIVE. COMING
UP WITH A BETTER BENEFIT
PACKAGE. BETTER WAGES, BETTER
TRAINING. UM, SOMETHING. TO YOU
KNOW TO THE PEOPLE SEE THIS AS A
REAL CAREER, YOU KNOW, HONOR
WHAT THEY'RE DOING. WHAT'S TRAIN
THEM? LET'S SUPPORT THEM. YEAH,
AND I'LL JUST ADD FROM THE
PERSPECTIVE OF BENEFICIARIES.
KEVIN OF EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF
JUSTICE AND AGING, UM THAT THIS
IS AN IMPORTANT ISSUE TO THOSE
THAT ARE PROVIDING THE CARE, AND
IT'S AN IMPORTANT ISSUE TO THOSE
THAT ARE RECEIVING THE CARE IF
WE DON'T HAVE THE WORKFORCE IN
PLACE, THEN THAT MEANS PEOPLE GO
WITHOUT CARE OR THAT FAMILIES
CHECK OUT OF OTHER PARTS OF THE
WORKFORCE TO CARE FOR FAMILIES,
SO THE ECONOMIC IMPACTS OF NOT
HAVING A WORKFORCE THAT CAN MEET
THIS NEED ARE TREMENDOUS FOR
FAMILIES AS WELL AS FOR THE
STATE. OVERALL WE ARE WE HAVE
NOT BUILT, UH THE WORKFORCE TO
PROVIDE FOR THE CARE ECONOMY.
THAT IS THE FUTURE OF BOTH CARE
AND OF WORK IN THIS STATE AND
ACROSS THE COUNTRY, SO WE HAVE
TO DO THAT. WE HAVE A GROWING
NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT ARE NOW
QUALIFIED FOR ME BECAUSE OF THE
EXPANSIONS OF, UM TO
UNDOCUMENTED PEOPLE AND THE
ELIMINATION OF THE ACID TEST TO
INCREASE THE INCOME LIMIT.
THAT'S GOOD THAT MORE PEOPLE ARE
NOW ELIGIBLE TO GET HELP WITH
CARE. BUT WE ARE SEEING THIS
WORKFORCE CRUNCH AND I THINK
THAT BOTH PEOPLE THAT RECEIVE
CARE AND PEOPLE THAT PROVIDE
CARE ARE COMPLETELY LINE IN WHAT
WE WANT TO SEE HAPPEN, WHICH IS
WE WANT THESE TO BE GOOD JOBS.
WE WANT THE THINGS THAT VICTORIA
AND SUSAN SAID, AND THAT THAT
YOU ASSEMBLY MEMBER SAID NEED TO
HAPPEN FOR THESE WORKERS. GOOD
GOOD JOBS, JOB PROTECTIONS. GOOD
WAGES, GOOD BENEFITS THAT HAS TO
BE THERE SO THAT WE CAN RECEIVE
CARE WHEN WE GROW OLDER THAT OUR
FAMILIES CAN RECEIVE CARE. UM
AND THEN YOU KNOW, WE KNOW THAT
OUR FAMILIES ARE TAKEN CARE OF
SO THAT WE CAN GO OR EARN OUR
OWN ECONOMIC SECURITY AND
STABILITY IN OUR LIVES. UM, SO
THESE INTERESTS ARE ALIGNED. UM
AND WE HAVE TO START APPROACHING
THIS ISSUE AS A FAMILY AND
COMMUNITY ISSUE TO FIND THE TO
MAKE THE HARD DECISIONS TO FIND
THE SOLUTIONS WE NEED. YEAH, I
MEAN, IT GETS BACK TO. I MEAN, A
LOT OF THE PROGRAMS THAT WE
DISCUSSED TODAY, RIGHT? YOU
KNOW, THE FOOD MEALS WE CAN
PROVIDE AS MANY MEALS TO HOMES,
BUT WHO'S GONNA FEED THEM? IT'LL
JUST SIT THERE AND COLLECT IF
IT'S A PERSON THAT HAS A
DISABILITY. IF THERE'S NOT
SOMEBODY FEEDING THEM, THEY
COULD ASPIRATE BE IN THE
HOSPITAL WITH PNEUMONIA. SO
EVERYBODY WANTS TO TALK ABOUT
THE SITUATION, BUT NOBODY WANTS
TO PROVIDE SOLUTIONS. THIS IS A
REAL PROBLEM, GUYS. IF OUR I HÌ
S¼ S¼ WORKERS CANNOT AFFORD GOOD
LIVING WAGES AND BE ABLE TO TAKE
CARE OF THEMSELVES AND TAKE CARE
OF THEIR LOVED ONES. YOU CAN
THROW AS MANY MEALS YOU CAN PROV
YOU CAN THROW AS MANY OTHER
SERVICES. BUT IF THAT PERSON'S
HOME ENVIRONMENT THEY DON'T HAVE
THAT SUPPORT STRUCTURE. THOSE
DOLLARS ARE GOING WASTED. SO FOR
ME THE NUMBER ONE PRIORITY.
SHOULD BE SPECIAL WHEN IT COMES
TO CAREGIVERS IS MAKING SURE
THAT I HÌ S¼ S¼ WORKERS HAVE
ACCESS TO ALL RESOURCES AND WE
GROW OUR WORKFORCE. UM WHEN IT
COMES TO TAKING CARE OF IT,
THERE'S NOTHING THAT SURPASSES
US MOST IN MY OPINION, AND I
HAVE NOT SEEN ANY ACTIONS BY THE
LEGISLATURE OR THE
ADMINISTRATION WHEN IT COMES TO
TAKING ACTION ON THIS
SPECIFICALLY, IT'S BEEN A LOT OF
BAND AIDS. BUT NÓ ONE'S DONE
ANYTHING AND THERE IS GONNA BE A
SILVER TSUNAMI. IT'S GONNA GET
MUCH WORSE IF WE DO NOT ADDRESS
THIS PROBLEM. UM ANY OTHER
COMMENTS FROM MY COLLEAGUE.
WELL, I CAN CONTINUE TO ECHO THE
SAME CONCERNS THAT I HAVE AND
THIS IS NOT MY FIRST TIME IN
THIS COMMITTEE, NOR MY FIRST
TIME AS THE VICE CHAIR OF THIS
COMMITTEE. UM SO WELCOME BACK
FOR ME, I GUESS. BUT, UM BUT
WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS
FOR A DECADE. AND YOU KNOW, I
I'VE GOTTA SAY THAT THE WORK
THAT'S GONE INTO PUTTING
TOGETHER THE MASTER PLAN AND IN
THE OVERSIGHT, IT'S UH, YOU
GOTTA APPLAUD THE EFFORTS.
BECAUSE THIS WASN'T AN EASY TASK
. THIS WASN'T SOMETHING THAT
STARTED OFF EASILY. AND FROM
WHERE WE WERE 10 YEARS AGO WHEN
I FIRST GOT INTO THE LEGISLATOR
TO WHERE WE ARE TODAY IS NIGHT
AND DAY JUST FROM THEN IN THE
LAST DECADE, BUT YET HERE WE ARE
AGAIN WITH A LOT OF THE SAME
PROBLEMS. SO I. I DO WANNA THANK
YOU ALL FOR PUTTING IT TOGETHER
IN THE WORK THAT YOUR GROUPS
HAVE DONE. WITH ALL THE
STAKEHOLDERS AND REALLY LOOKING
AT HOW WE CAN DO THIS? BECAUSE
THIS ISN'T ABOUT BIG GOVERNMENT
GROWING. THIS IS ABOUT MAKING
SURE THIS IS FINE TUNED TO TAKE
CARE OF OUR POPULATIONS. AND
REALLY IT. IT'S LOOKING AT HOW
AREA BY AREA FOR US, YOU KNOW,
WE CALL IT DISTRICT BY DISTRICT,
BUT IT'S YOU KNOW HOW HOW DOES
THIS WORK? IN THE INLAND EMPIRE.
HOW DOES IT WORK IN L? A HOW
DOES IT WORK IN SAN DIEGO? HOW
DOES IT WORK IN THE SAN JOAQUIN
VALLEY SOUTH VALLEY VERSUS NORTH
VALLEY? UM SO THAT I WANNA THANK
YOU FOR WHAT YOU'RE DOING THERE,
BUT I ALSO SHARE THE SAME
CONCERNS AS DO A LOT OF PEOPLE.
AND ALSO WANNA KNOW HOW MOVING
FORWARD WE'RE GONNA ENSURE THAT
WE CAN CONTINUE TO LOOK AT THOSE
INDIVIDUAL AREAS AND TO
CELEBRATE WHAT THEY'RE DOING
THERE TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY
STILL HAVE INPUT THAT IS NOT A
TOP DOWN SITUATION BECAUSE A LOT
OF AREAS HAVE DIFFERENT
TRADITIONS HAVE DIFFERENT THINGS
. WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY
AS THEIR AGING OUT HAVE THAT
MEANINGFUL. UM, GOLDEN YEARS.
AND WELCOME BACK, MR VICE CHAIR.
GREAT TO SEE YOU, UM SUSAN DE
MORRIS, DIRECTOR OF THE
CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF AGING.
UH, WE'RE SO FORTUNATE TO HAVE
THIS THIS FIVE GOAL FRAMEWORK
FOR 10 YEARS AND I THINK, UM,
HAVING A CONSTANT THAT INCLUDES,
UM RIGHT AT THE HEART OF IT.
CAREGIVING THAT WORKS, AND
THAT'S CAREGIVING FOR THE PAID
WORKFORCE AS WELL AS UNPAID
FAMILY CAREGIVERS WHO WE KNOW
TODAY PROVIDE THE VAST MAJORITY
OF LONG TERM CARE IN STATE AND
OUR NATION, AND THAT'S AN
IMPORTANT RECOGNITION IN THE
PLAN IS HOW CAN WE LIFT UP AND
SHORE UP FAMILY CAREGIVERS? UM
EARLIER, I MENTIONED OUR LOCAL
AGING AND DISABILITY, UM,
PLANNING GRANTS AND GETTING AT
THE, UM, YOU KNOW, REALLY
LOOKING AT WHAT THE WHAT'S
BUBBLING UP? UM FROM THE
COMMUNITY LEVEL AND HEARING, UM
HEARING FROM, UM MEMBERS OF OUR
YOU KNOW, CITIES AND COUNTIES
AROUND THE STATE AND FINDING, UM
, A LOT OF COMMONALITY AND
REINFORCEMENT THAT THOSE FIVE
BOLD GOALS UM REALLY STAND
INCLUSION AND EQUITY, NOT
ISOLATION. UM WE KNOW IN OUR
LOCAL COMMUNITIES THAT FAMILY,
UM STRUCTURES AND SYSTEMS HAVE
CHANGED. WE HEARD EARLIER FROM
THE PANEL THAT FAMILY SIZES ARE
SHRINKING AND FAMILIES ARE MORE
MOBILE. UM, PART OF WHY WE WANT
TO SEE AND STANDARD PROGRAMS
THROUGHOUT THE STATE IS YOU MAY
HAVE A FAMILY MEMBER, UM IN
BAKERSFIELD, PROVIDING SUPPORT
TO A LOVED ONE IN SACRAMENTO
REMOTELY AND TRYING TO NAVIGATE
A SYSTEM IN AN ALTOGETHER
DIFFERENT COUNTY COMING ON THE
WEEKENDS, SHARING
RESPONSIBILITIES WITH OTHER
FAMILY MEMBERS. UM SO REALLY, UM
, JUST MAKING SURE THAT THE
SYSTEM WORKS IN ALL 58 COUNTIES.
AND AS WE HEARD THAT THERE'S UM
ONE DOOR AND THAT PEOPLE GET THE
SUPPORT AND RESOURCES THEY NEED
THE FIRST TIME THEY ENTER THAT
DOOR INSTEAD OF BEING REFERRED,
UM YOU KNOW, PASSED AROUND AND
REFERRED TO OTHER RESOURCES. NÓ.
IT'S MAKING SURE IT IS A ONE
STOP. WRAPAROUND IS EXTREMELY
IMPORTANT, BECAUSE AS AS YOU
JUST SAID, WITH YOUR SCENARIO,
IT'S FAMILY MEMBERS ARE HAVING
TO LEAVE. TAKE DAYS OFF OF WORK
AND COME AND MAKE SURE THEY GET
YOU KNOW MOM AND DAD OR GRANDMA
AND GRANDPA WHO? WHOMEVER IT IS
THAT THEY'RE TAKING CARE OF. IN
THAT DOOR. AND SO THAT'S YOU
KNOW TIME AWAY FROM WORK, AND IF
YOU'VE GOT TO GO BACK AND FORTH
AND BACK AND FORTH IT IT BECOMES
YOU LOSE FAITH IN THE SYSTEM
REALLY QUICK, AND THERE'S A LOT
OF APATHY. I THINK WITH PEOPLE
TOWARDS GOVERNMENT SYSTEMS
PERIOD RIGHT NOW. AND SO WE NEED
TO MAKE SURE THAT SERVICES ARE
THERE. AND THAT IT MAKES SENSE.
YOU KNOW, IT'S WHEN WE SIT HERE
AND WE GO? WE'RE WE'RE JUST NOW
GETTING A WEBSITE THAT MAKES
SENSE. I REMEMBER WHEN I CAME
IN. I WAS THE GUY THAT'S LIKE,
HOW COME WE DON'T HAVE AN APP
FOR THIS, YOU KNOW, AND WE'RE
STILL NOT EVEN TO APPS AND SO
AND YOU KNOW, EVERYTHING COMES
DOWN TO THE COST. IT'S ALL ABOUT
MONEY, MONEY MONEY. BUT IT'S
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE
POPULATION. THAT PAVED THE WAY
AND WE NEED TO TAKE CARE OF
THEM. UM AND NEED TO SET UP A
SYSTEM. SO AS YOU KNOW, THE
SILVER TSUNAMI AND THOSE UNDER,
YOU KNOW, COMING BEHIND IT. ARE
GONNA BE TAKEN CARE OF IN A FAIR
, EQUITABLE WAY THAT IS GONNA
ENSURE QUALITY OF LIFE SO I CAN
CONTINUE ON AND ON. BUT I, I
THINK THE BOTTOM LINE AND IT
GOES BACK TO WHAT MADAM CHAIR
HAD SAID WITHOUT THE WORKFORCE.
THERE. AND YOU'RE RIGHT. I MEAN
THE INCREASING FAST FOOD MINIMUM
WAGE IS PROBABLY THE DUMBEST
THING WE DID. IS A STATE IN THE
LAST 10 YEARS. AND THE WORKERS
MAY NOT AGREE WITH ME, BUT
EVERYBODY ELSE IN THE WORKFORCE
IS STRUGGLING NOW BECAUSE OF IT.
SO NOW WE HAVE A SITUATION WHERE
THERE ARE NEEDED IMPACTFUL JOBS
THAT CANNOT KEEP UP BECAUSE THE
MINIMUM WAGE DIFFERENCES AND WE
ALWAYS TURN AROUND AND THE
ANSWER IS ALWAYS WILL JUST
INCREASE WAGES AND THAT'S LIKE
YEAH, AND THEN YOU INCREASE
INFLATION ACROSS THE BOARD. AND
THEN WE STILL STRUGGLE. SO WE'VE
GOTTA BE SMART ON HOW WE DO
THIS, BUT WE DEFINITELY NEED TO
LOOK AT WORKFORCE. ACROSS THE
BOARD AND YOU KNOW, 11 OF THE
BILLS THAT I'M RUNNING THIS
YEAR. THAT NÓ AND THE TOO MUCH
LEGISLATIVE SIDE ON ON A HEARING
, BUT IT IS JUST LOOKING AT HOW
WE'LL HAVE A NURSING SHORTAGE.
IN AREAS. AND WE CAN'T EVEN GET
YOU MIGHT HAVE AN L VÆ N. OR
èC N THAT'S TRYING TO GET INTO
AN R N POSITION. IN THAT LOCAL
AREA AND THEIR EMPLOYERS ARE
WILLING TO PAY FOR THEM. TO GO
TO SCHOOL. BUT THOSE SLOTS ARE
TAKEN UP. SO THAT'S SOMETHING
THAT I'M LOOKING AT THIS YEAR.
BUT OTHER THAN THAT, I WILL. IN
THE BACK DOOR. YOU. LARGE
CHAIRWOMAN. AWESOME UM, NÓ. I
JUST WANT TO REITERATE EVERYBODY
DESERVES LIVABLE WAGES AND
BENEFITS REGARDLESS OF WHAT IT
IS, AND WE SHOULD DO AS MUCH AS
WE CAN ACROSS THE BOARD THAT
PEOPLE HAVE THOSE, ESPECIALLY AT
A TIME WHERE MOST AMERICANS ARE
LIVING PAYCHECK TO PAYCHECK. THE
ONLY PEOPLE THAT WILL UNDERSTAND
THAT ARE THOSE PEOPLE THAT ARE
WORKING THOSE JOBS. SO UM WHAT
THE WORK THAT THE LEGISLATURE
HAS DONE TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE
ARE LIVABLE WAGES IS VERY
IMPORTANT AND SHOULD BE UPHELD.
I WOULD LIKE TO GO AHEAD AND
OPEN THIS. FOR ANY PUBLIC
COMMENTS.
UM PETER HANSEL. I AM ADVOCACY
VOLUNTEER FOR A ARP, CALIFORNIA
WE REPRESENT 3.2 MILLION
CALIFORNIANS, UH, WHO ARE
MEMBERS OF A ARP AND ON BEHALF
OF OUR MEMBERSHIP? WE'D
CERTAINLY LIKE TO THANK THE
COMMITTEE, THE CHAIR AND THE
VICE CHAIR FOR CONVENING.
TODAY'S HEARING. VERY VERY
IMPORTANT. UM A ARP. I THINK
WOULD LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE JUST
UPFRONT THE TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF
WORK THAT HAS GONE INTO
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PLAN THUS
FAR HERE WE ARE IN THE FOURTH
YEAR. CERTAINLY THERE WAS A
COMPREHENSIVE BY THE WITNESSES.
OF ALL THE INITIATIVES, SOME OF
THE FUNDING THAT WAS PUT INTO
THE INITIATIVES IS VERY MUCH
APPRECIATED, UM, AND THE
GOVERNOR'S WILLINGNESS TO
SUSTAIN THE FUNDING IS VERY,
VERY IMPORTANT AS WELL, BECAUSE
THOSE PROGRAMS WOULD BE AT RISK.
UM, GOING INTO THE BUDGET
SITUATION WE HAVE RIGHT NOW, I
WOULD SAY ON ON BEHALF OF A RP
S¼ MEMBERSHIP. THE CRITICAL
UNDERPINNING OF THE MASTER PLAN
IS EQUITY. YOU'VE HEARD THAT
TODAY FROM THE WITNESSES
APPRECIATE THE ACKNOWLEDGMENT.
IT'S ACTUALLY, UM, IT'S REALLY
THE GUIDING PRINCIPLE SHOULD BE
THE GUIDING PRINCIPLE FOR THE
PLAN AND SOMETHING WE'RE
STRONGLY IN SUPPORT OF A ARP HAS
SPECIFIC PRIORITIES. SOME OF
THEM OVERLAP WITH THE THINGS
THAT ARE PRESENTED TODAY. SOME
ARE A LITTLE DIFFERENT. I THINK
TO START WITH, UH, I THINK A ARP
STRONGEST PRIORITY IS, AS WAS
DISCUSSED A LITTLE BIT BY SOME
OF THE WITNESSES ESTABLISHING AN
LTS S¼ BENEFIT FOR THE FORGOTTEN
ME AS IT'S REFERRED TO THE FOLKS
THAT DON'T DON'T HAVE
ELIGIBILITY FOR PUBLIC PROGRAMS
AND DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO LONG
TERM SUPPORTS AND SERVICES, AND
I SHOULD MENTION THAT A ARP IS
ABOUT TO LAUNCH A PUBLIC
CAMPAIGN TO START, UH, EDUCATING
THE PUBLIC KIND OF A FACE THE
FACTS CAMPAIGN IF YOU WILL, UH,
AIMED AT HELPING, UH,
CALIFORNIANS UNDERSTAND THE
FINANCIAL REALITIES OF, UH WHAT?
WHAT'S INVOLVED WITH, UH, AGING
IN CALIFORNIA? A SECOND PRIORITY
, AND IT HAS NOT BEEN MENTIONED
IS THE NEED FOR ACCESSIBLE
TRANSPORTATION. UH VERY, VERY
IMPORTANT TO, UM, THE, UH,
SENIORS AND PERSONS WITH
DISABILITIES ACCESSIBLE OPTIONS
THAT ARE REAL. FOR PEOPLE THAT
CAN ACCESS MOBILITY IS VERY,
VERY IMPORTANT. IT'S A SOCIAL
DETERMINANT OF HEALTH. UH AND
SOMETHING WE WANNA MAKE SURE
CONTINUES TO GET A SPOTLIGHT,
ALTHOUGH IT MAY NOT FALL ALWAYS
UNDER THE DEPARTMENT OF AGING,
UH FOR RESPONSIBILITY, AND THEN
A THIRD AND VERY POINT TO A ARP.
AND IT'S UM, DIRECTOR DEMARIS,
UH, TOUCHED ON IT IS
ACCOUNTABILITY. UM AND
TRANSPARENCY AND WE'D ACTUALLY
LIKE TO URGE THE COMMITTEE AND
THE LEGISLATURE TO ADOPT THE
RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE LITTLE
HOOVER COMMISSION, WHICH CAME
OUT WITH A REALLY GOOD REPORT
AND, UH LATE LAST YEAR, CALLING
FOR ADDITIONAL REFORMS IN THAT
AREA. UM I THINK THAT WOULD
ADVANCE. I THINK IT IT PROBABLY
GOES TO THE POINT OF DRILLING
DOWN A LITTLE BIT TO SOMETHING
THAT'S A LITTLE MORE SPECIFIC
AND A LITTLE MORE TIME. SORT OF.
I THINK KEVIN PREVILLE WAS
TRYING TO GET THIS POINT ACROSS.
THAT REALLY SHOWS US HOW WE'RE
GONNA GET TO THAT. 20 THREE 30
MILESTONE. UM EXCUSE ME. PLEASE
KEEP THE COMMENTS BRIEF. THANK
YOU. I'LL I'LL WRAP IT UP. SO
WE'LL BE FOLLOWING UP WITH A
LETTER TO OUTLINE THIS AND, UH,
IN MORE DETAIL, AND THAT WILL BE
AVAILABLE. UM, AFTERWARDS. THANK
YOU. MADAM CHAIR. I'M DARBY
KERNAN. UM I'M REPRESENTING
LEADING HÌ, CALIFORNIA,
REPRESENTING OVER 600 NONPROFIT
PROVIDERS SERVING THE OUT OF
HOSPITAL CONTINUUM OF CARE FOR
OLDER ADULTS, INCLUDING
AFFORDABLE HOUSING, RESIDENTIAL
CARE FACILITIES, LIFE PLAN
COMMUNITIES, SKILLED NURSING
FACILITIES, HOME AND COMMUNITY
BASED SERVICES, HOME HEALTH AND
HOSPICE. UM THE MASTER PLAN FOR
AGING IS A VITAL TOOL FOR
ENSURING THE STATE IS
PRIORITIZING THE NEEDS OF OLDER
ADULTS. WE APPRECIATE YOU
HOLDING THIS HEARING TODAY. UM
WE APPLAUD THE DEPARTMENT OF
AGING THE ADMINISTRATION THE
LEGISLATURE FOR FOLLOWING
THROUGH WITH THIS PLAN, AS WELL,
UM, ENGAGING WITH STAKEHOLDERS
AND ADDRESSING THE CHALLENGES
FACING OLDER ADULTS IN
CALIFORNIA. WE ENCOURAGE THE
LEGISLATURE TO PASS LEGISLATION
IN SUPPORT OF THE GOALS OF THE
MASTER PLAN ON AGING IN
PARTICULAR. EXPANDING ACCESS TO
LONG TERM CARE SERVICES AND
SPORTS AND INCREASING AFFORDABLE
HOUSING FOR OLDER ADULTS. THANK
YOU. HØI CAROL SCHWARTLANDER,
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE
CALIFORNIA COMMISSION ON AGING.
UM WE'RE ESTABLISHING STATE
STATUTE TO SERVE AS THE
PRINCIPAL ADVOCATE FOR OLDER
CALIFORNIANS. FIRST I WANT TO
EXPRESS MY APPRECIATION TO THE
DEPARTMENT AND THE
ADMINISTRATION FOR THEIR
TREMENDOUS WORK ON THE MASTER
PLAN FOR AGING. YOU'RE RIGHT. IT
WASN'T AN EASY LIFT. THERE'S
STILL A LOT OF WORK TO GO. BUT
THE STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT HAS
BEEN BEYOND BEYOND WHAT'S THE
WORD BEYOND? IT'S BEEN
PHENOMENAL. SO UM, THEY CONTINUE
TO ENGAGE STAKEHOLDERS BOTH
DURING THE DEVELOPMENT AND THEN
ALSO THE IMPLEMENTATION. THE
COMMISSION HAS BEEN INVOLVED
SINCE DAY ONE, AND WE CONTINUE
TO SUPPORT IMPLEMENTATION OF THE
MASTER PLAN GENERALLY AND IN
SPECIFICALLY BY SPONSORING S¼ B
1249 WITH SENATOR ROCK, WHICH IS
FOCUSED ON MODERNIZING AGING
SERVICES IN CALIFORNIA, FOR THE
MANY REASONS EXPRESSED BY
VICTORIA JUMP, AND HIS
RECOMMENDATION FROM THE èC A
2030 REPORT AND FOR PERSPECTIVE,
MY FIRST JOB WITH THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA WAS AS A DATA ANALYST
AT THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF
AGING STILL REMEMBER BEING
APPALLED AT THE LACK OF
CONSISTENT DATA ACROSS THE AAA
NETWORK AND THE LACK OF
PERFORMANCE MEASURES SO YOU CAN
IMAGINE I AM SO EXCITED AND
THRILLED TO BE WORKING WITH THE
COMMISSION TO SPONSOR
IMPROVEMENTS TO THE AGING
NETWORK TO MODERNIZE IT AND
AGREE WITH VICTORIA THAT THE
TIME FOR CHANGE IS NOW AND WE
NEED INNOVATION. THANK YOU. ALL
RIGHT. SEE NÓ OTHER, UM COUPLE
OF COMMENTS AGAIN. I'LL BRING IT
BACK HOME. THANK YOU GUYS. SO
MUCH FOR YOUR, UM, WORK ON THE
MASTER PLAN OF AGING. IT'S NOT
AN EASY TASK. I KNOW AND IT CAN
BE REALLY SCARY TO SEE WHAT'S
GONNA HAPPEN. THE NEXT 5 TO 10
YEARS, BUT YOUR WORK, UM, IS
SUPER IMPORTANT. THERE'S A LOT
OF MORE WORK THAT WE NEED TO DO.
THANK YOU GUYS. I HEAR CLEARLY
THE ENGAGEMENT OF THE
STAKEHOLDERS. UM, THANK YOU
GUYS. SO MUCH FOR YOUR WORK, UM,
WITH THAT WE WILL ADJOURN THIS
HEARING. THANK YOU.