The Action Plan

A significant demographic shift is occurring in Merced County. By 2030, older adults aged 60 and over will comprise 17.9% of the total population, an increase of 23.6% from 2020. By 2060, 1 in 4 residents are projected to be older adults, the first time in Merced County’s history that they would outnumber youth 18 years and under.

The number of people with disabilities in Merced County is projected to increase along with growth in the older adult population. Disability rates tend to increase as people age due to medical conditions, injuries, and unequal access to necessary resources.

The growth in the number of older adults and people with disabilities in Merced County represents an opportunity to revisit how we design our communities, including how we provide health care, social services, and infrastructure. The coming years and decades offer unprecedented opportunities to engage, learn from, listen to, and empower these important members of our communities.

2025-2030 Action Plan

The Merced County Human Services Agency and the Area Agency on Aging welcome you to take part in the Age & Disability-Friendly Merced County initiative. You can download an English and/or Spanish language PDF of the full Action Plan, or a PDF of the Executive Summary in Hmong and Portuguese by clicking on the links below. You can also navigate through accessible, English language HTML versions of each section of the Action Plan by clicking the section links at the bottom of this page; we encourage people using screen readers and/or Google Translate to navigate through the HTML sections for greatest accessibility.

The full Action Plan was adopted by the Merced County Board of Supervisors on June 10, 2025.

Accessible HTML Sections

Acknowledgements

Section 1. Welcome

Section 2. Executive Summary

Section 3. Introduction

Section 4. Mission & Vision

Section 4. California's 5 Bold Goals

Section 5. The 8 Domains of Livability

Section 6. Community Profile

Section 7. The Action Plan

Project Recommendation #1: Communications Plan

Project Recommendation #2: Caregiving and Volunteer Network

Project Recommendation #3: Volunteer-Driver Programs

Project Recommendation #4: Subsidized Home Repairs

Project Recommendation #5: Strategies for Housing Development

Project Recommendation #6: Senior Social Activities and Gathering Spaces

Project Recommendation #7: Accessible Transportation Advocacy

Project Recommendation #8: Inclusivity Awareness Campaign

Project Recommendation #9: Senior Community Garden

Project Recommendation #10: Funeral and End-of-Life Planning Services

Project Recommendation #11: Essential Pedestrian Safety Infrastructure

Project Recommendation #12: Digital Literacy Program

Project Recommendation #13: High-Quality Critical Services in Rural Areas

Project Recommendation #14: Adequate Lighting in Pedestrian Areas