As One in Four Californians Approaches Age 60, State Releases Fifth Annual Report on the Master Plan for Aging

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

By 2030, one in four Californians will be aged 60 or older, reshaping communities, housing, health care, emergency preparedness, and the workforce. California’s Master Plan for Aging (MPA) is the state’s ten-year, comprehensive framework to meet this demographic shift so all Californians can age with dignity, security, and support.

SACRAMENTO - Today, California released the Fifth Annual Report on implementation of the Master Plan for Aging, "Focusing on What Matters Most." The report shares progress, investments, and accountability efforts as California reaches the midpoint of the state’s first blueprint to plan for its changing demographics, as Californians aged 60 or older now outnumber those under 18 for the first time.

"Five years into implementation, the Master Plan for Aging is helping California turn longterm planning into real progress," said Kim Johnson, Secretary of the California Health & Human Services Agency. "As our population ages, this work strengthens how housing, health, and human services come together to support older adults, people with disabilities, and caregivers in every community."

Over the past five years, California has taken action to tackle homelessness, transform health and behavioral health, support family caregivers and the direct care workforce, promote equity and inclusion, and address affordability – all of which advance system change as the state prepares for an aging population.

"The Master Plan for Aging reflects California’s bold commitment to turning vision into action and building systems that will support Californians for generations to come," said Susan DeMarois, Director of the California Department of Aging. "As we look toward 2030, we are energized by the progress made and remain steadfast in our focus on equity, lived experience, and accountability."

FIVE YEARS OF ACTION AND SYSTEM CHANGE

California is focused on a whole-of-society approach to advance the Master Plan for Aging’s Five Bold Goals. Key progress highlighted in the Fifth Annual Report includes:

Housing and Homelessness Prevention: California launched a Statewide Action Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness and California’s Community Care Expansion Program has a goal to build or preserve 7,000 residential care and housing units for older adults and people with disabilities. (Goal 1 – Housing for All Ages and Stages)

Health System Transformation: Through CalAIM, California strengthened whole-person care and community-based supports. California has invested more than $1.29 billion through the Providing Access and Transforming Health initiative to build service delivery capacity among community-based organizations, counties, and Tribes. (Goal 2 – Health Reimagined)

Behavioral Health and Alzheimer’s Care: Voters approved Proposition 1 (2024), establishing the Behavioral Health Services Act and Behavioral Health Infrastructure Bond Act. California launched its first Older Adult Behavioral Health Community Survey and advanced early detection, surveillance, and dementia care standards statewide. (Goal 2 – Health Reimagined)

Inclusion, Equity, and Engagement: California released its Racial Equity Framework, supported local agencies in reducing loneliness and isolation among older adults, and started the Aging and Disability Lived Experience Advisory Board to elevate perspectives from populations and communities that have historically been underserved or underresourced. (Goal 3 – Inclusion and Equity, Not Isolation)

Caregiving and Workforce Support: California launched CalCARES to expand caregiver awareness, education, and navigation supports and awarded $2 million in grants to strengthen health and human services career pathways. (Goal 4 – Caregiving that Works)

Affording Aging: California invested in long-term services and supports research, piloted a Guaranteed Income program prioritizing older adults, and fast-tracked up to $80 million in state funds to protect food security during federal disruptions. (Goal 5 – Affording Aging)

STRENGTHENING PARTNERSHIPS AND ACCOUNTABILITY

Since the launch of the Master Plan for Aging, philanthropic partners have invested more than $5 million to support policy, research, and statewide engagement advancing the Plan’s Five Bold Goals. (Strengthening Public-Private Partnerships)

California continues to prioritize the MPA Implementation Tracker and MPA Data Dashboard to monitor the implementation of MPA Initiatives and inform data-driven decision making. (Tracking Progress and Accountability; Elevating Data to Inform Policy)

LOOKING AHEAD TO 2030

With demographic change accelerating, the Master Plan for Aging continues to serve as a dynamic blueprint supporting current and future needs of older adults, people with disabilities, and caregivers. The Master Plan for Aging is committed to stakeholder engagement, listening to people and the communities they represent to ensure diverse perspectives help shape the system improvements that matter most to Californians.

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ABOUT THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF AGING

Under the umbrella of the California Health & Human Services Agency, the California Department of Aging (CDA) administers programs that serve older adults, adults with disabilities, family caregivers and residents in long-term care facilities throughout the State. These programs are funded through the federal Older Americans Act, the Older Californians Act, State General Fund, and through the Medi-Cal program. To promote the Department’s goal of every Californian having the opportunity to enjoy wellness, longevity, and quality of life in strong healthy communities, CDA actively collaborates with a wide array of partners on transportation, housing and accessibility, emergency preparedness and response, wellness and nutrition, falls and injury prevention, improving services to persons living with dementia, reducing fraud and abuse, and many other issues. To learn more, visit aging.ca.gov.