Sonoma County has approved a 10-year plan to improve the well-being of its aging population.
To meet the needs of an increasingly older, more diverse population, the County’s new Master Plan for Aging outlines 23 strategies to achieve goals in six key areas:
- Housing: Increase the availability of preventive and supportive services that allow older adults and people with disabilities to age in place without concerns of safety and homelessness.
- Transportation: Make accessible and safe transportation available for older adults and people with disabilities, regardless of where they live.
- Health: Bolster assistance for older adults and people with disabilities in accessing the health services and supports they need to maintain and improve their health and well-being.
- Wellness, equity and inclusion: Ensure that older adults and people with disabilities can easily locate and access information, resources and opportunities for greater social connection.
- Caregiving: Reinforce the value of caregiving by improving the resources, support and training for paid and unpaid caregivers.
- Economic Security: Ensure basic needs are affordable and attainable for older adults and people with disabilities.
Over the next three months, the Sonoma County Department of Human Services will host a series of public meetings across the county to provide an overview of the plan and work with communities to implement its strategies.
The county is aging rapidly, with 28-percent of residents over 60, and is on track to hit 35-percent by 2030.
