AGING WELL IN SANTA BARBARA COUNTY
Moving Forward with the California Master Plan for Aging
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Santa Barbara Aging Report Exec Summary_V5.indd 1Santa Barbara Aging Report Exec Summary_V5.indd 1 10/9/23 1:11 PM10/9/23 1:11 PM Attachment B
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
This is not a plan simply for today’s older adults. Instead, it is a blueprint for aging across the lifespan. The Master Plan for Aging calls on all California communities to build a California for All Ages & Abilities: for older Californians currently living through the many different stages of the second half of life; for younger generations who can expect to live longer lives than their elders; for communities of all ages – family, friends, neighbors, coworkers, and caregivers – surrounding older adults and people with disabilities. As Cal- ifornians, we can create communities where people of all ages and abilities are engaged, valued, and afforded equitable opportunities to thrive as we age, how and where we choose. — CA Master Plan for Aging
The California Master Plan for Aging (MPA) is underway in Santa Barbara County. Since October 2021, service providers, stakeholders, and local leaders have joined together to forge priorities and recommendations aligned with the MPA vision of building an integrated system of accessible and affordable long-term care for an aging population.
The MPA offers a once-in-a-generation opportunity to address long-standing systemic challenges which have stymied service providers, funders, and policymakers for decades.
Addressing issues through a siloed system of care funded through short term budget and grant funding cycles is no longer sufficient to meet the growing needs of a burgeoning aging and more diverse population. By 2030, one in four Californians will be 60 or old- er, and Santa Barbara County is no exception. Long-term growth forecasts indicate that Santa Barbara County’s elderly population will grow by over 118% percent by 2060.
The older adult population will be more diverse and an increasing number of older adults will identify as living with a disability.
The time has come to adopt a long-term strategy that will address the inter-related and often complex issues facing older adults, families, and communities.
By this report, the Santa Barbara County Adult & Aging Network (AAN) is calling upon community leaders, county and city planners, and human service and health care providers to take a fundamentally different and comprehensive approach through the California Master Plan for Aging.
The California Master Plan for Aging Opportunity
The Master Plan for Aging offers a paradigm shift away from fragmented programs that target a specific demographic or a specific need toward a more holistic approach that recognizes aging as a multi-faceted journey experienced by everyone. This new mindset places the needs of older adults and people with disabilities into every aspect of plan- ning and policy-making as a means of improving the quality of life for residents of all ages. It requires a shift from the past legacy of short term programs and opportunities to a more comprehensive and sustainable system of integrated services and supports. 1 Santa Barbara Aging Report Exec Summary_V5.indd 2-3Santa Barbara Aging Report Exec Summary_V5.indd 2-3 10/9/23 1:11 PM10/9/23 1:11 PM The results will benefi t not only the burgeoning aging population, but will also alleviate pressure for younger generation family members and communities who are
working overtime to fi ll the gaps in care. Harnessing the MPA vision will support an age-and disability-friendly fu- ture for everyone in Santa Barbara County.
Santa Barbara County is well positioned to seize this op- portunity and leverage the state resources committed
to achieving these ambitious, but necessary, goals. The county has a strong network of providers in health and so- cial services, and government and public leaders are rec- ognizing the need for creating age-and-disability-friendly communities. There is also tremendous potential in the
thousands of members of the county’s aging adult and dis- ability communities whose voices will undoubtedly pro-
vide direction and support for the process.
Local Implementation
In October 2021, AAN invited service providers,
stakeholders and local leaders to come together in a
countywide forum to launch local MPA planning and
prioritization. With broad community discussion
and input, two of the MPA’s fi ve bold goals were cho- sen as fi rst priorities for local MPA implementation:
1) Housing for All Stages & Ages; and
2) Caregiving That Works. A third goal, Health Reimag- ined, was explored at the opening forum and has since
emerged as a third priority for implementation.
The launch was followed by research and the develop-
ment of preliminary recommendations on the priority
goals conducted by an AAN MPA Ad Hoc Advisory Com-
mittee (Committee) in cooperation with Caring Togeth-
er Santa Barbara County (CTSBC), a regional collabora-
tive network of health and human service providers.
The Committee and CTSBC also gathered and reviewed
data to better understand the experience of aging in
Santa Barbara County today. Information was obtained
through surveys of local caregivers, a community care-
giving solutions pilot, and data research from the 2020 United States census, the California Department of Fi-
nance, the California Master Plan for Aging, the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, the Santa Barbara
County Association of Governments, and many other
sources. Additionally, interviews and listening sessions were conducted in late 2022 and in 2023 with mem-
bers of the Committee and with select service providers from the AAN.
A Snapshot of Aging in
Santa Barbara County
The data gathering and review process provided a snap-
shot of some of the pressure points in the current ex-
perience of aging in Santa Barbara County. These cen-
ter around challenges to affording aging and accessing
housing and levels of care appropriate to different stages in the aging journey. Older adults and people with dis- abilities are increasingly living without basic necessities required for healthy aging due to a lack of affordable in- home care and a shortage of home care providers, long
waiting lists for affordable housing and senior housing facilities, and increased rental evictions, often leading to homelessness. Behavioral health challenges and a lack of services for older and disabled adults with complex needs were repeatedly raised as concerns that require immedi- ate attention.
Behind this list of issues lie stories of countless individuals, families, and caregivers whose lives, safety, and well-be- ing are at stake. The data and anecdotal stories reveal that older adults are particularly vulnerable today. Recent hard-hitting challenges - the pandemic and natural disas- ters, the economy and infl ation, the housing crisis and an historic caregiver shortage, the rise in cognitive disability and behavioral health issues, to name a few - have created a vortex of vulnerability and distress for older adults and people with disabilities.
Fortunately, the MPA provides a framework and state
support to help meet the challenge. Resources are al-
ready fl owing into Santa Barbara County through several grants to strengthen home and community-based aging
related supports. These include a grant from the Califor- nia Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission to address the unmet behavioral and mental
health needs of seniors, funding from the Modernization of the Older Americans Act to support home and commu-
nity-based counseling and case management to seniors,
and grants from the California Department of Aging to
address isolation through digital connections and to
improve infrastructure and fi nancial support for the
Senior Nutrition Program.
CenCal Health, Santa Barbara County’s Medi-Cal pro-
vider, is participating in the California Advancing and In- novating Medi-Cal (CalAIM), a fi ve year systems change initiative to improve care and outcomes for Medi-Cal
enrollees, especially those with the most complex needs.
CalAIM seeks to reduce patient or short-term nursing
home stays through integrated models of “whole person”
care and coordinated health and social services.
The MPA vision to achieve a statewide network of Aging
and Disability Resource Centers (ADRCs) is taking root
in Santa Barbara County. A new ADRC formed jointly
with the Central Coast Commission for Senior Citizens
(the local Area Agency on Aging) and the Independent
Living Resource Center, is providing equitable access to 2 3
Santa Barbara Aging Report Exec Summary_V5.indd 4-5Santa Barbara Aging Report Exec Summary_V5.indd 4-5 10/9/23 1:11 PM10/9/23 1:11 PM long-term services and supports for older adults, people with disabilities, caregivers, veterans, and families, re- gardless of age and ability.
Preparing to leverage and coordinate future MPA re-
sources and initiatives will be an important next step in local MPA planning. It will require dedication from lead- ership across multiple sectors and engagement with lo-
cal residents from diverse communities throughout the
county. This work will be conducted with the support of a Local Aging & Disability Action Planning Grant pro-
vided by the California Department of Aging to facilitate the development of a comprehensive local MPA by March
2025. Another grant, awarded to CTSBC by the Califor-
nia Accountable Communities for Health Initiative (CA-
CHI) and funded by the California Department of Public
Health, will support engagement and progress toward
one of the MPA goals, Caregiving that Works. With this
support, Santa Barbara County has the potential to build a model of age-and disability-friendly living that all its residents deserve.
Aging is changing and it’s
changing California. Califor-
nia’s over-6o population is pro-
jected to diversify and grow
faster than any other age
group. By 2030, 10.8 million
Californians will be an older
adult, making up one-quarter
of the state’s population.
—CA Master Plan for Aging
NEXT STEP RECOMMENDATIONS
Data Gathering & Community
Listening While the preliminary data review in
the first phase of MPA planning provides a snapshot of
the status of older adults and people with disabilities, it also points to knowledge gaps. Additional quantita-
tive and qualitative research and analysis is needed to better understand and interpret the complex array of
challenges relayed in interviews and discussions with
service providers across the spectrum of adult, aging,
and disability services and programs. Most important-
ly, older adults and people living with disabilities need to be given opportunities to speak about their direct
experiences and needs in a changed, post-pandemic
environment. Special attention must be paid to engag-
ing communities of color, minority groups, and those
who have been historically underrepresented and
marginalized.
Housing For All Stages & Ages
Older adults have complex and changing needs
throughout the stages of aging related to income, mo-
bility, increased disability, transportation, caregiving needs, and healthcare access. The age-related system
of care needs a continuum of integrated housing and
care options that align with the stages of aging, includ- ing affordable in-home supports to prevent premature
institutionalization or homelessness.
Santa Barbara County has exemplary models of af-
fordable integrated housing programs such as Garden
Court, the Golden Inn and Village, and the new Har-
ry’s House to help inform a plan for expanded housing
options throughout the county. A local MPA must in-
clude strategies for expanding on some of the region’s
successful housing resources to meet the growing
need for affordable housing with supports, and draw
upon model programs for meeting the rising need for
cognitive and memory care.
The next phase of MPA planning should include en-
gagement with developers, realtors, health care pro-
viders, and Housing Element planners to ensure in-
tegrated planning, policies, and budgeting through
the next steps of the Housing Element planning and
implementation process.
“Housing that works is
housing that takes into
account the needs of aging.”
— Margot Kushel, MD,
Director Benioff Homelessness
& Housing Initiative
4 5
Santa Barbara Aging Report Exec Summary_V5.indd 6-7Santa Barbara Aging Report Exec Summary_V5.indd 6-7 10/9/23 1:12 PM10/9/23 1:12 PM Caregiving That Works Santa Bar-
bara County has a caregiver shortage resulting in a
lack of access to vital caregiving support across all in- come levels. There are many contributing factors to
the caregiver shortage, including an undervalued and
underpaid caregiving workforce earning less than half
of California’s median annual income and a service
delivery gap for middle income seniors who cannot
afford the high costs of care.
The shortage of affordable housing also impacts the
shortage in the caregiving workforce. Caregivers and
family members often cannot afford to live within com-
muting distance of those who need their care, whether
at home or in congregate settings. Even seniors who
are well resourced and prepared for aging’s challenges
face obstacles to receiving care, including shortages in available private caregivers and a lack of access to as - sisted living and memory care when needed.
Addressing the caregiving shortage requires a multi-
pronged approach. A local MPA must integrate hous-
ing and caregiving needs and include strategies for
caregiver career path development and support for
family caregivers. Specific strategies must address
ways to increase support for unpaid family caregiv-
ers, ensure liveable wages and career path opportu-
nities for the caregiving workforce, connect families
and caregivers to respite and other resources in the
community, and address inequities in access to care
across income levels.
40% of the requests
for private pay caregiv-
ers are not fulfilled due
to staffing shortages,
scheduling, and lack of
affordability for private
pay care.
—CTSBC 2022 survey
The MPA Vision is “an age and ability friendly California in which the wish of the majority of older adults - to age safely and with dignity at home and as an integral part of their community - becomes an accessible and affordable
reality. — CA Master Plan for Aging
Health Reimagined
The vast majority of adults want to “age in place” – in the comfort of their own home and connected to their
communities (AARP 2011). Under the current struc-
ture of care, In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) is only available to those who qualify under Medi-Cal. The MPA
redefines traditional supports for older adult health and wellness which was previously focused on the healthcare and managed care systems of support. Health reimagined
is designed to ensure that older adults have affordable access to necessary services for living in a home setting of their choice through the different stages of aging.
The snapshot of aging provided in this report points to the need for a robust system of home and community-
based supports throughout the county. The next step in
MPA planning must include a mapping of existing home
and community-based services (HCBS) and gaps in ser-
vice delivery. Model HCBS programs and funding struc-
tures from other counties and jurisdictions should be re- viewed and considered for implementation with the goal
of designing a comprehensive system of health and social services that will meet the needs of Santa Barbara County residents and their caregivers.
6 7
Santa Barbara Aging Report Exec Summary_V5.indd 8-9Santa Barbara Aging Report Exec Summary_V5.indd 8-9 10/9/23 1:12 PM10/9/23 1:12 PM
CONSIDERATIONS
• How can Santa Barbara County best prepare to
meet the needs of its rapidly aging population?
• What services and systems currently exist and
what more will be needed by 2030?
• Are there best practices and programs to adopt
and, if so, who will be responsible for adopting and
managing them?
• What county investments can be made to ensure
adequate access to housing and caregiving in the
short term for older and disabled adults?
• What kind of leadership and infrastructure is
needed to build a fully integrated and well-function-
ing system of care across sectors?
• What kind of resources are needed and what state
and federal resources and opportunities can be
leveraged?
• How can the county ensure equity in access and
affordability across all economic groups and commu-
nities and in all parts of the county?
• How can the county mitigate ageism and recognize
the great strengths and vibrancy that older adults and
people with disabilities bring to the community?
In other words, what would a successful local MPA
and its implementation look like in Santa Barbara
County?
Answering these questions will require bold commit-
ments of time and focus. It will involve new ways of
working together in multi-disciplinary partnerships
and across government departments and community
sectors. AAN looks forward to partnering with a wide
range of stakeholders, leaders, and community mem-
bers to create an age-friendly county that secures
dignity, support, and a thriving personal and commu-
nity life for all residents.
The MPA challenges communities to embrace the goal of successful aging for all its residents. It lays the foun- dation for the role of civic leaders, government officials, agency directors, philanthropists, policymakers, and communities to help residents thrive in every life stage. The next phase of the MPA in Santa Barbara County will be to work together to decide the vision, strategies, and sustainability of a comprehensive local MPA with a timeline for implementation. AAN invites countywide participation and support to seize this unique opportunity and explore these core questions in the coming months:
More attention must be brought to the reality
that our population is rapidly aging, that there
will soon be as many people over 60 as under
19, and that groundbreaking solutions are need-
ed to ensure that older Californians and persons
with disabilities can remain in their communities
and thrive.
— Master Plan for Aging IMPACT Committee Report
8 9
Santa Barbara Aging Report Exec Summary_V5.indd 10-11Santa Barbara Aging Report Exec Summary_V5.indd 10-11 10/9/23 1:12 PM10/9/23 1:12 PM www.sbcaan.org
For more information and to participate in
California Master Plan for Aging planning and
activities in Santa Barbara County, please contact:
Barbara Finch
Children & Adult Network Director
Santa Barbara County Dept. of Social Services
[email protected]
Santa Barbara Aging Report Exec Summary_V5.indd 12Santa Barbara Aging Report Exec Summary_V5.indd 12 10/9/23 1:12 PM10/9/23 1:12 PM