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Introduction

The County acknowledges the role older adults have in impacting the culture, economy, and daily lives of all residents in their communities through sharing their life experiences and knowledge. As OC prepares for the significant growth of the aging population, the County remains committed to addressing the evolving needs of older adults and caregivers. Adults 65 years and older are the fastest growing segment of the overall OC population. Although the commonly recognized age in the United States for a senior citizen is 65 years and older, this plan includes services for older adults who are 60 years and older. To address the growing needs for these individuals and ensure a healthy and supportive environment, the County has aligned its initiatives with the goals and strategies outlined in the CA MPA.

In June 2019, CA released Executive Order N-14- 19 which called for the creation of a statewide Master Plan to ensure the priority of health and well-being of older Californians and recognized the need for policies that promote heathy aging for this rapidly growing population. In 2021, the CA Department of Aging released the CA MPA which included strategies within the Five Bold Goals:

1. Housing for All Ages & Stages; 2. Health Reimagined; 3. Inclusion & Equity, Not Isolation; 4. Caregiving that Works; 5. Affordable Aging

The County used these goals and their associated strategies to guide its efforts in development of its local plan which began with the execution of the OC Older Adult Needs Assessment that included three surveys to gather community voice: the Older Adult Community Survey, the Older Adult Paid Provider Survey and the Caregiver Survey. Findings can be found in the OC Older Adults Needs Assessment Report. In addition, other data sources and existing County services and programs were examined to identify service gaps that could be closed to address the concerns of older adults captured through the needs assessment. Through this data driven process, the County has also ensured that all Five Bold Goals were included in the development of the priority initiatives.

OC Imperative

In support of the commitment to the aging population within OC, the County is proud to introduce the OC MPA—a five-year plan which includes three priority initiatives designed to guide meaningful, sustainable change at the local level with the help of community partners. The OC MPA was developed to be both aspirational and actionable. It reflects the power of collaboration and reaffirms its commitment to promote and enhance service delivery and care coordination for the health, independence, and quality of life of older adults. The County is committed to collaboration to ensure enhanced coordinated services for older adult needs, which includes a focus on cultural competency and accommodation for those with disabilities as older adults are among the highest rates within the total population. This plan envisions a more accessible, coordinated approach to serving older adults that will help to enhance the overall well-being of residents as they age.

The OC MPA is more than a County led   initiative—it is a community-wide call to action. The well-being of OC older adult residents depends on ongoing collaboration among public agencies, nonprofit partners, the private sector and the community at large.

The community also supports this collaborative approach, as most of the respondents to the OC Older Adult Community Survey feel that the County’s role is to “be an educator and/or facilitator” and “provide a safety net covering basic human needs”. The preferred role for the County is to help coordinate and lead efforts as opposed to being “the lead in all aspects” highlighting the importance of this collaborative effort.