January 31, 2026
To: Camarillo City Council
Re: Camarillo Council on Aging 2025 Annual Report
On behalf of the Camarillo Council on Aging (CCOA), I am submitting this Annual Report for the 2025 calendar year.
BACKGROUND
The CCOA is an advisory board, formed in 1978, whose purpose is to identify the needs of the senior population in the Camarillo community and make recommendations regarding matters of concern to the Camarillo City Council. The Advisory Board is comprised of seven (7) members with alternating two-year terms, each beginning in July. I have served as a Board Member and Secretary since July 2024 and was elected Chair in October 2025.
VISION
The vision of CCOA is for every senior in the greater Camarillo area to age with optimal health, well-being and dignity.
MISSION
The mission of CCOA, in collaboration with the Camarillo City Council, is to promote participation, independence, and quality of life through advocacy, information and activities that support optimum senior health and quality aging.
COMMUNITY PARTNERS
We are fortunate to have the support of several community partners who virtually attend the meetings and provide updates from their agencies that educate our Council and provide vital support to our mission. We appreciate the participation and valuable information shared by each of these agencies. We look forward to continuing and strengthening these relationships.
• Ventura County Area Agency on Aging (VCAAA) has two liaisons from their Advisory Council who attend monthly CCOA Board meetings. These individuals report on current VCAAA updates addressed at the County and State level. 2 • Camarillo Health Care District – Michelle Rogers regularly attends the CCOA Board meetings, sharing information about the variety of new and continuing services offered through the Camarillo Health Care District. Blair Barker, CEO has also attended several of our meetings.
• Pleasant Valley Recreation and Park District – Senior Center Representatives attended when they were available. Mary Otten, General Manager, attended one of our meetings in person to share information about the vision of their multi- generational facility and take questions from the Council.
CCOA GOALS
Each year CCOA sets goals based on community input gathered from surveys and community partnerships and our observations.
As the goals were set, actions necessary to achieve those goals were established. The top three goals for 2025 and the necessary actions are as follows:
1) Provide information to the 55+ Community that will increase their knowledge and awareness of available resources that support optimum health and quality aging. a. Senior News: Provide a high quality, online quarterly newsletter to ensure older adults have information on trending topics, events, community safety, wellness, and accessible City and County resources. Continue engaging in community outreach to boost and grow the number of quarterly subscribers for The Senior News.
b. Camarillo Council on Aging Web Page: In collaboration with the City of Camarillo, maintain CCOA’s web page to provide older adults with access to resources, services and programs available locally and county wide.
c. Camarillo Senior Resource Guide: Update the 2023–2025 Senior Resource Guide, a printed document, designed to provide easy access to local resources that benefit the 55+ Community. Through community outreach, continue to advance, promote, and increase the distribution of such Guide to residents and businesses.
2) Plan, promote and participate in activities that engage the 55+ Community.
a. 50 Plus Expo: Participate in Pleasant Valley Recreation & Park District’s (PVRPD) annual Health and Wellness Fair. Communicate who we are, the services we provide and the resources available.
b. Shred Event: In conjunction with the City Clerk, plan and conduct annual Shred Event. This event is open to all City residents and businesses. The proceeds from this event benefit the CCOA to support the 55+Community needs.
3 c. Holiday Gift Bags: Plan and coordinate outreach efforts with the Camarillo Health Care District, to deliver clients’ useful and fun holiday gift bags.
3) Engage in outreach with senior housing communities to identify 55+ community needs.
a. 55+ Survey: Distribute the survey at 50+ Expo, Senior Housing outreach programs and with the Senior News.
b. Camarillo Senior Housing: The City of Camarillo has several senior housing communities, including 55+ communities, mobile home parks, apartments and assisted living facilities.
i. Plan and collaborate with these communities and community partners to visit and inform residents of programs and resources that support optimum senior health and quality aging.
CHALLENGES
• The Senior Resource Guide needed to be updated for 2026-2028. Work on this started in late summer, was printed in December 2025 and was ready for a January 2026 roll out.
• The County of Ventura did not publish a 2025 Live Well Magazine (similar information to what the Senior Resource Guide has, but on more of a County Level). A county publication in 2026 is also questionable, with budget constraints identified as a potential reason. This made it important we produce a robust guide for 2026-2028.
• Accessing financial resources to support the publication of a Resource Guide and to conduct community outreach, a previous decline in revenue generated from the Shred events, which are our greatest source of public financial support, compounded with increased printing and supply costs.
• CCOA turnover. In addition to the four (4) normal July vacancies due to term end dates, we had a member elect not to continue beyond year 1 of his two year term, followed by two newly appointed members resigning before their first meeting, having to re-appoint and await approval, and the resignation of our Chair of two months, Greg Erickson, who moved out of the area. The board currently has one open position, due to a resignation in January 2026.
MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS
• The 2026-2028 Senior Resource guide is complete! This is, by far, our biggest accomplishment of 2025! It was done on time and on budget. It has an improved format, combining information from the previous guide, as well as the County’s guide that wasn’t published. The Council believes it will be easier for recipients to find information necessary for obtaining resources. Distribution of 4 the guides began at the January 2026 meeting. Electronic versions of the guides will be on the City of Camarillo’s website and the Camarillo Library. • The City Council graciously contributed $8,000 this fiscal year (July 2025) to help with the Resource Guide
• The Shred Event in October, largely organized by the City Clerk’s office, generated a 76% increase in revenue from past years. We attribute this to an earlier start to the planning process, increased advertising, use of the City Marquee and volunteers obtained by the City Clerk.
• Senior Resource Guide ads were sold by CCOA members and generated an increased revenue from 2023 by 35.8%.
• Holiday Gift Bags for Senior Meal Recipients. In collaboration with the Camarillo Health Care District, CCOA and Amber Light Lions Club, assembled 240 holiday gift bags. 220 were delivered to homebound seniors who receive weekly meals. 20 were distributed at the Senior Day Care Center. Students from St. Mary Magdalen school made 240 holiday cards for these seniors and were included in the bags.
• Canvas tote bags and magnifiers were purchased by CCOA and will be available at senior community meetings.
LOOKING AHEAD
The CCOA board, through partnership with the City of Camarillo, community liaisons and other charitable groups, is looking forward to getting out into the community meeting with, educating, and seeking feedback from the senior population, while distributing the Senior Resource Guides and identifying areas of concern for our senior community. We look forward to continuing this important advocacy for our seniors.
Current CCOA Board
The current board consists of Cathy Glueckert (Chair), Jozi Zabarsky (Vice-Chair), Bruce Margolis (Treasurer), and members Becky Hosseini, Sandra Melton and Julie Mohr, and one recent open position.
Respectfully submitted,
Catherine (Cathy) Glueckert, Chair