Demographic Snapshot of Older Adults in Thousand
Oaks – Present and the Next 10 Years
Presented to City Council July 8, 2025
FY 2024-25 Council on Aging Demographic Committee
Commissioners Joseph Donohue, Tony Gitt, and Nivedita Vaidya ATTACHMENT #2
1 Table of Contents
Background ..................................................................................................................... 2 Data ................................................................................................................................. 3 Discussion ....................................................................................................................... 4 Older Adult Population ................................................................................................. 4 Thousand Oaks Age Distribution ................................................................................. 4 Old Age Dependency Ratio (or Old age support Ratio) (OADR) .............................. 7 Sex Ratio ................................................................................................................. 8 Looking Into the next Decade: Older Adult population growth in Thousand Oaks 2023- 2033 ........................................................................................................................... 10 Population Growth Rate ......................................................................................... 10 Population Projection ..............................................................................................11 Aging in Place ........................................................................................................ 12 Older Adults and Mortality ...................................................................................... 13 Older Adult Population Characteristics ...................................................................... 16 Marital Status ......................................................................................................... 17 Household Composition Among Older Adults ........................................................ 18 Disability Status of Older Adults ............................................................................. 19 Income and Poverty amongst Older Adults in Thousand Oaks .............................. 22 Summary and Next Steps ............................................................................................. 27 Summary ................................................................................................................... 27 Next Steps ................................................................................................................. 27 References .................................................................................................................... 28 Appendix ....................................................................................................................... 29 2 Background
California State
In June 2019 Governor Gavin Newsom issued Executive Order N -14-19 for the creation of a California Master Plan for Aging (MPA). Recognizing that “an aging population will [not only] introduce new opportunities for economic and community growth, [it will] also drive increased health and long-term care costs. [Governor Gavin Newsom helped create] a plan that [brought] everyone to the table – local communities, labor, private sector and philanthropy – to help us understand what’s coming and guide us toward taking bett er care of older Californians.”
After more than a year of public engagement, stakeholder outreach, and community roundtables, the MPA was
issued in January 2021. The MPA is a “blueprint” for state government, local government , the private sector, and
philanthropy to prepare the state for the coming
demographic changes and continue California’s
leadership in aging, disability, and equity. California’s over-60 population is projected to diversify and grow
faster than any other age group. By 2030, nearly 10
million Californians will be an older adult, making up one- quarter of the state’s population.
The MPA outlines five bold goals and twenty -three strategies to build a California for All Ages by 2030. It also includes an MPA Data Dashboard to measure our progress and a Local Playbook to drive partnerships that help us meet these goals together. • Goal One: Housing For All Ages And Stages: We will live where we choose as we age in communities that are age- , disability-, and dementia-friendly, and climate- and disaster-ready.
• Goal Two: Health Reimagined: We will have access to the services we need to live at home in our communities and to optimize our health and quality of life. • Goal Three: Inclusion & Equity, Not Isolation: We will have lifelong opportunities for work, volunteering, engagement, and leadership and will be protected from isolation, discrimination, abuse, neglect, and exploitation. • Goal Four: Caregiving That Works: We will be prepared for and supported through the rewards and challenges of caring for aging loved ones. • Goal Five: Affording Aging: We will have economic Security for as long as we live.
The MPA 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 “In the State Legislature
we often talk about the
‘silver tsunami’ and the
importance of making
sure that we plan for that
senior population”
Jacqui Irwin, 42nd District
Assemblymember
3 communities of all ages – family, friends, neighbors, coworkers, and caregivers – surrounding older adults and people with disabilities. As Californians, 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. The State of California MPA and data dashboard can be viewed at www.mpa.aging.ca.gov.
Ventura County
In October 2019 the County of Ventura started the process of creating a County specific plan on aging. Plan development included strategic planning sessions, focus groups, stakeholder meetings, and community engagement. The County’s Master Plan on Aging was released in October 2022 with goals, strategies, and initiatives that aligned with the five bold goals of the State’s MPA. The Ventura County specific goals and the corresponding initiatives are intended to be a flexible document that provides opportunities for the community to collaborate on making Ventura County livable for older adults and people with disabilities. The Ventura County Master Plan on Aging can be viewed at https://www.vcaaa.org/about-us/planning-strategy/.
Data
This demographic snapshot of Older Adults in Thousand Oaks uses data from the 2023 U.S. Census Bureau (American Community Survey, five -year estimates) from the incorporated City of Thousand Oaks (figure 1) as the baseline. For the purpose of this report, Older Adult refers to 65 years of age and older.
Figure 1. Incorporated City of Thousand Oaks
4 Discussion
Older Adult Population
In 2023, the older adult population over the age of 65 was 20.3% (25,589 older adults) in the City of Thousand Oaks, which is higher than the 17% (141,315 older adults) in Ventura County, and 15% (5,994,486 older adults in the State of California (Table 1).
Table 1. Older Adults Above the Age of 65+ and Median Age State of California County of Ventura City of Thousand
Oaks
Total number of
Older Adults over
age 65
5,994,486 141315 25,589
Percentage of Older
Adults over age 65 15% 17% 20.3%
Median Age 38 39 45
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2023
Thousand Oaks Age Distribution
According to 2023 U.S. Census Data,16.2 percent of Thousand Oaks’ population is youth,
63.5 percent in working age group and 20.3 percent in Older Adult age group, above 65 years (Chart 1). One of every five residents is an Older Adult in Thousand Oaks. For instance, the US is projected to have 20 percent of its population above the age of 65 in 2030, but Thousand Oaks has already surpassed that threshold. Most demographers would label Thousand Oaks as an aging city.
5 Chart 1: City of Thousand Oaks Age Distribution
SOURCE: U.S. Census Bureau, 2023. DP05, American Community Survey, Demographic and Housing Estimates, Five-year estimates 2023.
The next ten years for the nation and the C ity of Thousand Oaks will bring a final surge of “Older Adults boom” in the population as many boomers, cohort born between 1946- 1964, will complete the entry into the golden years by year 2029. 76 million boomers belonged to this cohort and although 11 million deceased, the number of Older Adults in the US is 76.4 million as immigrants entered the country after the 1965 Immigration Act have filled in the gap and are now aging. (Pollard and Scommegna, 2014).
The Older Adults boom that started in the year 2011, along with the increasing lifespans, has challenged the nation and many states with increasing demand for its healthcare resources and equitable distribution of income in the retirement years of fixed income living due to their unprecedented population size. In the city of Thousand Oaks the impact of 25,589 older adult residents and growing, will be felt for another 10 to 15 years.
20271
79816
25589
0-14 15-64 65+
Thousand Oaks Age distribution,
2023
age groups
6 Chart 2. Median Age – City, County, and State
The median age of Thousand Oaks is 45 years while that of Ventura County is 39 and the United States is 38 years (Chart 2). Fifty percent of the City’s population is above the age of 45 years. This further supports that Thousand Oaks is an aging community.
The population pyramid in Chart 3 gives a visual look into a region’s population distribution by age and sex. The largest population bars are for 50-54 years, 55-59 years and 60-64 years, making the structure “top heavy” . Over t he next fifteen years ( through 2035) Thousand Oaks will witness an unprecedented increase in its Older Adult population growth as these age groups become older. The following 30 years will experience a slowing of growth as the age structure shows a pinch in middle age groups , which is young adults between 20–50-year-olds.
7 Chart 3. Thousand Oaks Population Pyramid by age and sex
SOURCE: U.S. Census Bureau. Population Pyramid for Thousand Oaks City, S0101, 2023 ACS 5- year estimates, Subject Tables
Old Age Dependency Ratio (or Old age support Ratio) (OADR) Another way to examine the age structure of a region is to understand the dependency or support ratio created due to differences in population sizes by age. It is an indicator of the potential burden on the current working-age population. It is a simple measure of the ratio of Older Adults population supported by the working age population in a region. If the working age population declines in successive years then the regional economy can decline in income generation and supporting the growing Older Adults population falls on smaller proportion of workers. For instance, Japan has the highest Old age Dependency Ratio in the world, of 50:100 that is, one Older Adult is being supported by two workers.
8 Population 65 years and above divided by the Population 15-64 (working age group) is a better measure of Old age dependency ratio, one commonly used in national and international comparisons.
Using the following data by age sub groups displayed in Table 2, the OADR for the City of Thousand Oaks is 32 Older Adults ( above the age of 65) per 100 working age group population. For every Older Adult there are three working individuals in Thousand Oaks.
In the US, the OADR was 22 in 2020 and was projected to increase to 35 in 2030 (census.gov). Comparatively, Thousand Oaks has already outpace d the nation in this measure. The city of Thousand Oaks needs to prepare for this ratio to increase in the next fifteen years as there will be shifts in aging of the population. As t he working age groups of 55-64 years move into Older Adult years in the next ten years and the working age groups shrink s in population, Older Adults dependency will increase by 2033. The city needs to attract and retain younger workers and working families to the region by offering a robust city and outdoor life, high quality schools and multi age housing options.
Table 2. Thousand Oaks Total population and Sub age population, 2023 Total population 125,676
65 years and above 25,589
60 years and above 34,936
age 55-59 10,071
age 50-54 9,799
age 15-64 79,816
age 15-59 70,469
SOURCE: U.S. Census Bureau. S0102 Population 60 years and Over in Thousand Oaks City, American Community Survey, 5 year estimates for 2023. Census of US
Sex Ratio
The Sex ratio indicates that as people age into their later years of life there are 20 fewer men per 100 women (Chart 4). Differences in Life expectancy and mortality rates by sex, usually explain the imbalance in Older Adult population sex ratio. Research on this pattern typically shows that women in later years of life are more likely to be widowed as men have higher mortality rates than women in later years and thus, living alone. Thus, planning for better caregiving services , particularly for women in their later years of life , becomes important. Typically, males have lower rates of widowhood or remarry after divorce or widowhood and have spousal caregiver present in the household. Based on the 2023 data on sex ratio in Table 3, and displayed in Chart 5, 58 percent of Thousand Oaks Older Adult Population is female and 42 percent of them are men.
9 Chart 4. Sex Ratio of Older Adults 65+
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2023.
Table 3.Thousand Oaks Population by Age and Sex by Years, 2020 to 2023 Thousand Oaks City 2020 2021 2022 2023
Total population 127,648 127,274 126,532 125,676
65 years and above 22,035 24,702 25,117 25,589
Male 11,443 11,329 11,215 11,799
Female 13,592 13,373 13,902 14,790
Male: Female Ratio 85:100 84:100 81:100 80:100
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2023. DP05, ACS: Demographic and Housing estimates. Five year estimates for years, 2020,2021, 2022, 2023
Chart 5. Sex distribution of Older Adults, 2023
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2023. DP05, ACS: Demographic and Housing estimates. Five year estimates for 2023.
42%
58%
Sex Distribution of Older
Adults 2023
Male
Female
10 Looking Into the next Decade: Older Adult population growth in Thousand Oaks 2023-2033
Population Growth Rate
In this section Population Growth Rate for the City of Thousand Oaks total population and the growth rates of Older Adults in both age groups of 60 years and above, and 65 years and above, in Thousand oaks are compared for years 2020- 2023 (Table 4) Since 2020, the incorporated City of Thousand Oaks has been gradually losing population. (Interestingly, the 60+ years and 65+ years and above, experienced a decline in population between 2020 and 2021 possibly due to the pandemic mortality or outmigration within this group). However, the 60 years and above population experienced a 1.34 percent growth rate increase, while the 65 years and above Older Adults experienced 1.88 percent growth rate increase in 2022- 2023.
Table 4. Total Population Annual Growth Rate compared to 60+ and 65+ growth rates, 2020 to 2023
Thousand Oaks City 2020 2021 2022 2023
Total population 127,648 127,274 126,532 125,676
60+ population 34,037 33,693 34,474 34,936
65+ population 25,015 24,702 25,117 25,589
total population growth rate
(percent) 0.29 0.58 -0.676
60+ growth
rate(percent)
1.01 2.31 1.34
65+ growth
rate(percent)
1.26 1.68 1.88
11 In the same time period that the overall population is decreasing within the City, the annual growth rates for the Older Adults within the City is increasing. Chart 6 shows the annual growth rates for the city of Thousand Oaks in relation to the Older Adult population above age 60 and and above age 65 for comparative purposes. The population above 65+ shows a gradual increase from 1.68 to 1.88 between 2022 and 2023.
Chart 6. Population Growth Rates for City of Thousand Oaks compared to 60+ and 65+ populations
SOURCE: ACS 5 year estimates for 2020, 2021, 2022,2023 by age for Thousand Oaks city.
Population Projection
Table 5 shows that a projected total population of Thousand Oaks in 2033 will be 117,434 people, that is 8,242 individuals less in the next ten years than the U.S Census counted in 2023.
-0.29
-0.58 -0.676
-1.01
2.31 1.34
-1.26
1.68 1.88
1 2 3
Population Growth Rates by age group for
2021,2022 & 2023
total population 60+ 65+
12 Table 5. Population Projection based on 2022-2023 growth rate for Thousand Oaks city 2033 Projection
2023 Total population 125,676
Growth Rate -0.68
Time Interval in Years 10
2033 Projected Population 117,434.1374
NOTE: Population projection formula Population (t)=Population (0)*(1+growth rate)^10
Aging in Place
Most Older Adults who have been residing in Thousand Oaks are most likely to age in place due to their strong preference and local amenities, such as high quality of life and resources the community provides , including well- maintained parks and recreation activities, safety from crime, and a vibrant theatre and arts program.
The current age structure (Chart 3 and Chart 7) gives us an idea of how the numbers will increase in the next ten years. In 2023, Thousand Oaks had 25,589 Older Adults above the age of 65. Fifty-six percent of this group is “young old” between the ages of 65– 74- year-old, while 15 percent are the oldest old in the 85 years and over age group. Research indicates that each age category has unique needs and capabilities in relation to their health status, family and (in)dependency factors, and disposal income. Each cohort has a distinct experience in their lifetime in relation to the country’s history, wars and economic conditions. For instance, the young old have come of age in the 70s and experienced the Vietnam and Korean war.
Chart 7. Thousand Oaks Population Pyramid by ages 55+, 2023
SOURCE: U.S. Census Bureau, 2023. DP05, American Community Survey, Demographic and Housing Estimates 10071
9347
14195
7599
3795
55 to 59 years
60 to 64 years
65 to 74 years
75 to 84 years
85 years and over
13 The City of Thousand Oaks has a life expectancy of 89 years. This is higher than Ventura County, the State of California or the Nation. Life expectancy refers to the average number of years a person born in a given year can expect to live , as long as the mortality rates remain constant. Life expectancy improves with age. In the United States, a person who survives 65 years can expect to live for another 19.6 years or, to 85 years (census.gov).
Given the age structure as illustrated in Charts 3 and 7, we can expect that over the next ten years, at most, 14,195 Older Adults will survive to 85 years in Thousand oaks (up from the 2023 count of 3,795) . The Charts also show that in the next ten years the cohort of individuals who are 55-64 years (19,418 individuals) will be aging and by 2033 will be fully accounted for in the older adult age group 65+.
However, to accurately estimate the future older adult population in a particular region one must consider the mortality rates of the specific age groups in that region. Thus, we calculate the age specific mortality rates for those in the ages of 65-74years, 75-84 years and 85 years and above.
Older Adults and Mortality
Using the California Health and Human Services data portal one can apply deaths for all causes to the specific older adult age groups in Thousand Oaks by Zip Codes.
Every year there are consistently 1,232 to 1,316 deaths in Thousand Oaks for all age groups. However, with age, mortality increases, and older adult deaths range from 84 percent to 87 percent of all deaths in the city during 2021 to 2023. We can disaggregate the deaths by specific age groups and notice that the deaths increase with age (Chart s 8A and 8B).
14 Chart 8A. Proportion of Older Adult deaths by Year: 2021-2023 SOURCE: California Health and Human Services, 2019-2023, Final deaths by Year, Age by Zip Codes Chart 8B. All deaths by Age, 2023
SOURCE: California Health and Human Services, 2019-2023, Final deaths by Year, Age by Zip Codes A
pplying the Age Specific Mortality Rate (ASMR) (see also Appendix 2) to specific age cohorts allows us to extrapolate how many will survive the next ten years from the original older adult cohort in 2023. For instance, of the 14,195 individuals who are in the 65–74- year-old age cohort in 2023, 12,634 individuals will survive to 75-84 years (Chart 9). 1,085 1,123 1,077
1,292 1,316 1,232
84% 85% 87%
2021 2022 2023
Proportion of Older Adult deaths by year
Thousand Oaks Death 65+ Thousand Oaks Deaths ALL Proportion of Older Adult death 14,195 7,599
3,795
158 337
582
65-74 75-84 85+
Count
Age
All Deaths by Age, 2023
population deaths
15 Chart 9. 2033 Predicted Older Adult population based on Age Speci fic Mortality Rates compared to 2023 Older Adult population.
In
2033, Thousand Oaks will experience a new cohort of 55 –64-year-olds that will age into the 65–74-year age group. A large population of 19,418 is the last of the “senior boom” that Thousand Oaks will experience. Applying the ASMR of 65- 74 olds approximately, 17,103 individuals will age into 65-74 age group. This group will be approximately 3,000 individuals larger than the current group. In 2033, the 75- 84 age group will be approximately 5,000 individuals larger than the original cohort in 2023. The city of Thousand Oaks needs to plan for this significant increase in the next ten years (Table 6A and 6B).
T
able 6A. Projected Change from 2023 to 2033 by Cohort in Age Structure 2023 2033
Total Thousand Oaks Population 125,676 117,434
Population under 65 100,087 90,029
55 to 64 years 19,418
65 to 74 years 14195 17,103
75 to 84 years 7599 12,634
85 years and over 3795 3936
125,676
19,418
14195
7599
3795
117,434
17,103
12,634
3936
0 20,000 40,000 60,000 80,000 100,000 120,000 140,000
Thousand Oaks
55 to 64 years
65 to 74 years
75 to 84 years
85 years and over
2033 2023
16 Table 6B. Projected change in total population of Older Adults from 2023 to 2033 2023 2033
Total Number of individuals age 65+ 25,589 33,673
Total Population in Thousand Oaks 125,676 117,434
Percentage of Population that is over age 65+ 20.36 % 28.67%
It is predicted that the Older Adult population will increase from 20 .36 percent of the Thousand Oaks population (25,589 individuals) to 28.67 percent of its population (33,673 individuals) (Table 6B and Chart 10). The older adult population will significantly increase while Thousand Oaks’ total population declines. The biggest increase will be in the age cohort of 75–84-year-olds as they will comprise 37 percent of the older adult population in 2033, an increase from 29 percent in 2023 . At the same time, 50 percent of the older adults will become “young old” in 65- 74 age cohort. Each cohort needs a distinct set of resources based on their lifes tyle, income levels and health status. For instance, as disability increases with age and is higher in the 75-84 ages (see Chart 13), by 2033 there will be an increasing need for services in this growing population. Services will need to expand to serve a larger population of older adults while facing a slight decline in its total population and shrinking of the working adult population.
Chart 10. Older Adult Population Projection for the City of Thousand Oaks, 2033
17 Older Adult Population Characteristics
The following section provides a profile of the current Older Adults and some of the key characteristics unique to their age group. Older adults face changes in their sources of income, employment opportunities , and health status, as well as physical and mental challenges over time. These changes create a need for communal or familial caregiving support while also providing older adults with the opportunity to continue living with dignity and enjoying their retirement years, which may include volunteering their expertise and time and serving their community in different capacities. This section will provide a deeper understanding of who Older Adults are, and their living situations, which can allow us to prepare and plan for the imminent increases in the number of older adults in our community.
Marital Status
Relative to the overall Thousand Oaks city population, the Older Adult population has a more traditional marital status, 63 percent of older adults in the United States are married, as opposed to 5 4 percent in Thousand Oaks (Chart 11). But compared to the overall population, Older Adults above age 60 years, have a higher percentage of widowhood and divorced population. Suggesting the possibility that many older adults are managing households independently or living alone. Twenty percent of Older Adults above 65 years are widowed, suggesting the incidence of widowhood increase with increasing age. This can lead to loneliness and a significant decrease in one’s financial resources as Social Security income declines when a spouse passes, Additionally, one’s savings and pensions may deplete over time.
Chart 11. 2023 Marital Status of Older Adults Above 60 years
54%
6%
10%
1%
30%
63%
16%
14%
1%
5%
NOW MARRIED,
EXCEPT
SEPARATED
WIDOWED DIVORCED SEPARATED NEVER MARRIED
Thousand Oaks 60 years and above
18 Household Composition Among Older Adults
Out of 24,567 households in Thousand Oaks with one 65 years and over members residing, 73 percent live in Family Households with Spouses or Parents while 23 percent live in nonfamily households (Table 7). A gender comparison shows that 63 percent of women are living alone in nonfamil y set up while 28 percent of males are living alone.
That is 3831 female headed households are living alone in Thousand Oaks.
Table 7. Living Alone by Sex in Thousand Oaks households with one 65+ adult.
Total: 25117 percent
In households: 24567 97.8
In family households: 17829 72.6
In nonfamily
households: 6738 27.4
Householder: 6096
Male: 1981
Living alone 1687 27.7
Not living
alone 294
Female: 4115
Living alone 3831 62.8
Not living
alone 284
Nonrelatives 642
In group quarters 550
SOURCE: U.S. Census Bureau.B09020, Relationship by Household Type (including living Alone) for Population 65 years and over. ACS, five-year estimates, 2023
19 Disability Status of Older Adults
As one ages, physiological changes result in normative changes that may affect one’s vision, hearing, furthermore one’s lifestyle, diet can affect ambulatory, cognitive abilities that can compromise self -care and independent living with age. Of the 25,042 Older Adults residents in Thousand Oaks, 7,719 (31%) Older Adults have identified themselves as having any disability (Chart 12).
Chart 12. 65 Years and Above With a Disability, 2023
SOURCE: U.S. Census Bureau. 2023. B18135, Age by Disability Status, ACS 2023 five-year estimates
Chart 13. Thousand Oaks Older Adults with a Disability
31%
69%
65 years and above by Disability,
2023
With a disability:
No disability:
20 As the Older Adult population increases and a new cohort moves into 75 + years, one can predict that disability within the population will also increase (Chart 13) . About 4 percent of the disabled Older Adults are living below poverty level in 2023.
For emergency preparedness during natural disasters or crises, these numbers are overly critical in terms of outreach and planning. Having a strategic plan to be able to identify the current 7,719 individuals, their residential or geographic location, their specific needs and to be able to communicate evacuation plans and have available transportation to move them to safe areas must be a priority.
Less than one- fifth of 65 to 74- year-olds, also known as young -old, self - identified as having any disability but in the older cohort, 44 percent of males and 45 percent of females above the age of 75 have some form of disability (Chart 14).
Chart 14. Percentage of Population with a Disability Varies by Age and Sex, 2023
SOURCE: U.S. Census Bureau. 2023.B18105, Sex by Age, by Disability Status, ACS 2023 five-year estimates
18%
82%
44%
56%
18%
82%
45%
55%
65- 74 WITH A
DISABILITY
NO DISABILITY 75 + WITH A
DISABILITY
NO DISABILITY
female
21 Chart 15. 65+ Population by Types of Disability, 2023
SOURCE: U.S. Census Bureau, 2023. B18102- B18107, Sex by Age by Types of Disability, American Community Survey, five-year estimates 2023
Older Adults above the age of 65 years face varying disabilities in Thousand Oaks (see Chart 15). Ambulatory difficulty seems to be the most prevalent, suggesting that almost 5,000 Older Adults need extra assistance in mobility and may be dependent on private, public or Dial-A-Ride transportation services. Almost 2,223 and 2,769 Older Adults face difficulties with self-care and independent living difficulty, suggesting that this group either lives alone or needs caregiving assistance from the community. Twenty-two percent of the self-identified disabled older adults are facing cognitive challenges (Chart 15).
Chart 16. Ambulatory Difficulty by Sex, 2023
SOURCE: U.S. Census Bureau, 2023. C18105, Sex by Age by Ambulatory Difficulty, American Community Survey, One-year estimates
1129
1740
4,935
2,223
2769 2888
All with vision
difficulty
all with cognitive
difficulty
all with
ambulatory
difficulty
all with self care
difficulty
all with
independent living
all with hearing
difficulty
11706
1547
10159
13342
3428
9914
0 2000
4000
6000
8000
10000
12000
14000
16000
65 years and over: With an ambulatory difficulty No ambulatory difficulty Males Females
22 Chart 17. Independent Living Difficulty by Sex, 2023
SOURCE: U.S. Census Bureau, 2023. C18107, Sex by Age by Independent Living difficulty, American Community Survey, One-year estimates
Charts 16 and 17 show the sex differences in disabilities of Older Adults in Thousand Oaks. Twice as many women than men face ambulatory challenges and eight times the number of men face independent living challenges. Thus, one must consider gender differences while formulating policies directed towards Older Adults regarding disability issues.
Income and Poverty amongst Older Adults in Thousand Oaks Older Adult households earn 80 percent of the average earnings of all households in Thousand Oaks. With age one’s source of income changes. The average combined social security earnings and retirement income of households with 60+ householders is approximately $73,733 and low - income Older Adults have a combined income of less than $ 20,000 with SSI and some cash assistance (Chart 18). 11706
346
11360
13342
2423
10919
0 2000
4000
6000
8000
10000
12000
14000
16000
65 years and over: With an independent living difficulty
No independent living
difficulty
Males Females
23 Chart 18. Average Household Income in Thousand Oaks for 60 years Above Older Adults
SOURCE: U.S. Census Bureau, 2023. S0102 Population 60 year and over in the US, 2023, American Community Survey, 5-year estimates of Subject Tables.
Chart 19. Household income by Age of Householder 65+, 2023
SOURCE: U.S. Census Bureau, B19037 Age of Householder by Household Income in the Past 12 months, (in 2023 inflation adjusted Dollars) ACS.
Chart 19 gives a deeper insight into the 15,847 households income distribution by Age of householder, 65 years and above: 12 percent have incomes up to 24,999, 20 percent have incomes between 25,000 and 49 ,999, 22 percent have incomes between 50 ,000 and 99,999, 27 percent between 100,000 and 199,999 and rest, 19 percent have incomes over 200,000. While 46 percent of Older Adult households are economically comfortable, 174,090
26,538
11,251 7,919
44,496
140,389
27,268
12,175 5,582
46,465
0 20,000
40,000
60,000
80,000
100,000
120,000
140,000
160,000
180,000
200,000
mean earnings mean social
security
mean supplemental
income
mean cash public
assistance
mean retirement
income
Thousand Oaks 60 years +
982
366
348
147
838
572
250
696
806
951
982
1553
1065
1324
1970
2997
0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000 3500
Less than $10,000
$15,000 to $19,999
$25,000 to $29,999
$35,000 to $39,999
$45,000 to $49,999
$60,000 to $74,999
$100,000 to $124,999
$150,000 to $199,999
Households
24 there are at least 12 percent of Older Adults households in thousand Oaks living on less than poverty level with household earnings of less than 10,000 to 24,999 (Chart 20).
Chart 20. Percent Distribution of Household income by age of Householder 65 years and above, 2023
Chart 21. Poverty Status of 60 years Above population, 2023
Nine percent of Older Adults are living below 100 percent poverty level, and another 4 percent are one event away from being poor (Chart 21 and Table 8). Poverty in old age can lead to economic vulnerability and affect one’s health and quality of life. Most of these individuals rely on communal support for protection from food insecurity and low -income housing options in the community.
9%
4%
87%
1 2
3 12
20 22
27 19
0 5
10 15
20 25
30 less than 10,000-
24,999
25,000-49,999 50,000-99,999 100,000-199,999 200,000 or more Household income
25 Thus, planning for a significant growth in Older Adults population and any national policy changes that may result in economic immiseration of the elderly population becomes imperative for the next 10 to 15 years.
Table 8. Poverty status of 60 years above Population, 2023 Poverty status
Thousand
Oaks percent 60 + percent
population 123,637
34,754
below 100 percent of poverty level
8 8.50
100-149 percent of poverty level
4 4.10
at or above 150 percent of poverty level 88.80
87.40 SOURCE: U.S. Census Bureau, 2023. S0102 Population 60 year and over in the US, 2023, American Community Survey, 5-year estimates of Subject Tables.
Table 9. Households with at least one member above 60+ receiving Food Stamps/SNAP
2020 2021 2022 2023
Total Number of Households in Thousand Oaks 46341 46270 46143 46158 Households received Food Stamps/SNAP in past 12
months 1190 1404 1726 1583
At least one person in household 60 years or over 419 525 723 1198 No people in household 60 years or over 771 879 1003 385 Households did not receive Food Stamps/SNAP in past 12
months 45151 44866 44417 44575
At least one person in household 60 years or over 21715 21566 21736 21204 No people in household 60 years or over 23436 23300 22681 23371 SOURCE: B22001Receipt of Food Stamp in past 12 months by presence of people 60+years and over in the household. ACS for various years
Data over the years show that 3.4 percent of all households that are receiving Food Stamps in 2023 had at least one member above the age of 60 years (Table 9 ). While it seems like a small percentage the trend over time indicates that every year the number of Older Adult households receiving Food Stamps is increasing, from 419 in 2020 to 1198 26 in 2023. In three years, we have seen 185 percent increase in the number of Older Adult households facing food insecurity.
Chart 22. Proportion of Households receiving Food Stamps with Older Adults
SOURCE: B22001Receipt of Food Stamp in past 12 months by presence of people 60+years and over in the household. ACS for various years
Chart 22 shows that in 2023 the percentage of households with a 60 year and above member comprised 75 percent of all households receiving Food Stamps. This percentage has almost doubled from 35 percent in 2020. Increasing food insecurity tied to increasing poverty amongst Older Adult households is a cause for concern especially when in the next ten years, Thousand Oaks will face an increasing Older Adult population in general.
35 42
75 0
10 20
30 40
50 60
70 80
2020 2021 2022 2023
Percentage
Years
27 Summary and Next Steps
Summary
The City of Thousand Oaks is an aged and aging community, with 20 percent of its current population above the age of 65 (25,589 individuals). Currently, for every Older Adult there are three working individuals in Thousand Oaks. Both these aging indicators will increase significantly over the next ten years. For instance, the older adult population in the City of Thousand Oaks is predicted to be 29 percent of the population by 2033 (33,673 individuals). The next ten years will experience a sizable structural increase of the older adult population as the current cohort of 55- 64-year-olds, approximately 17,103 individuals, enter the 65–74-age group by 2033.
Many Older Adult households in Thousand Oaks are economically comfortable with an average household income of $140,389 but there are at least 12 percent of Older Adult households living under th e poverty level and many more at financial risk reliant on community food banks and meals on wheels and services at Goebel Adult Community Center.
In the City of Thousand Oaks 7,719 Older Adults have identified themselves as having a disability. Among those that self -identified their disability, 5,000 older adults have ambulatory difficulty and will need extra assistance with mobility, most of whom m ay be dependent on public or Dial -A-Ride transportation services. Almost 2,223 Older Adults face difficulties with self-care and 2,769 Older adults face difficulty with independent living difficulty, suggesting that this group either lives alone or needs caregiving assistance from the community. A significant proportion of them are women that are living alone due to widowhood or divorce. As one ages, physiological changes result in normative changes that may affect one’s vision, hearing, ambulatory abilities, and cognitive abilities that can compromise self-care and ability to live independently. Over the next ten years the City will experience a sizable increase in the number of older adults who are above the age of
65. We can also expect the number of individuals with disabilities to increase, as well as the need for disability services.
Next Steps
The Demographic Committee of the Council on Aging encourages the City to consider future opportunities for the Council on Aging’s involvement on matters within the City's purview such as transportation and emergency preparedness. The Demographic Committee would also like to reiterate the importance of continuing to involve the older adult population and solicit our feedback on broader city related matters such as housing, homelessness, and the Downtown Master Plan.
28 References
California Health and Human Services. 2019-2023, Final deaths by year, Age by Zip Codes. data.chhs.ca.gov/dataset/death-profiles-by-zip=code/ Pollard and Scommegna, 2014. “Just how many Baby boomers are there?” in Population Reference Bureau, April 16, 2014.
State of California Master Plan on Aging and data dashboard. www.mpa.aging.ca.gov.
Ventura County Master Plan on Aging. https://www.vcaaa.org/about -us/planning- strategy/.
U.S. Census Bureau, 2023. DP05, Demographic and Housing Estimates, American Community Survey Five-year estimates 2023.
U.S. Census Bureau. 2023. S0102, Population 60 years and Over in Thousand Oaks City, American Community Survey, 5 year estimates for 2023.
U.S. Census Bureau. 2023. Population Pyramid for Thousand Oaks City, S0101, 2023 ACS 5-year estimates, Subject Tables
U.S. Census Bureau, 2023. C18107, Sex by Age by Independent Living difficulty, American Community Survey, One-year estimates
U.S. Census Bureau, 2023. C18105, Sex by Age by Ambulatory Difficulty, American Community Survey, One-year estimates
U.S. Census Bureau, 2023. B18102- B18107, Sex by Age by Types of Disability, American Community Survey, five-year estimates
U.S. Census Bureau. 2023. B18135, Age by Disability Status, American Community Survey, five-year estimates
U.S. Census Bureau, 2023. B19037, Age of Householder by Household Income in the Past 12 months, (in 2023 inflation adjusted Dollars)
U.S. Census Bureau. 2023. B09020, Relationship by Household Type (including living Alone) for Population 65 years and over. American Community Survey, five-year estimates.
U.S. Census Bureau. B2200, American Community Survey, Receipt of Food Stamp in past 12 months by presence of people 60+years and over in the household. ACS for various years
29 Appendix
Snapshot of Older Adults in Thousand Oaks 2023
Older Adults above the Age of 65+
California 5,994,486
Ventura County 141,315
Thousand Oaks 25,589
Proportion of 65+ in Total Population
California 15percent
Ventura County 17percent
Thousand Oaks 20percent
Median Age
California 38
Ventura County 39
Thousand Oaks 45
Sex Ratio of Older Adults 65+(Males:100 Females) 80
Old Age Dependency Ratio 32 Older adults per 100 workers.
Older Adults 65+ Living Alone (nonfamily households) 38percent Older Adults 65+ Widowed 21percent
Older Adults 65+Divorced 14percent
Older Adults 65+ below 100 percent poverty threshold 9percent Older Adults 65+ between 100-149percent poverty threshold 4.5percent Older Adults 65+ Veterans 13percent
Older Adults 65+ owner -occupied residence 80percent Older Adults 65+ renter- occupied residence 20percent 30 Older Adults 65+ living with self-identified disability 31percent
A
ppendix 2: Age Specific Mortality Rates for different older adult age groups. age groups 2023 deaths population ASMR
65-74 158 14,195 0.011131
75-84 337 7,599 0.044348
85+ 582 3,795 0.15336
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