Section 2. Executive Summary
Section 2. Executive Summary
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, up 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. This dramatic shift is due to several key factors: the aging of the baby boom generation, overall increases in life expectancy, and the long-term effects of past immigration patterns in California.
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. There are many similarities in the services and supports older adults and people with disabilities need to live independently and participate in community. Both groups may require assistance with daily living tasks, transportation, housing, health care, and financial support, making it efficient and effective to address these needs through integrated planning efforts.
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.
In September 2024, Merced County joined the the AARP Age-Friendly Network of States and Communities, and a grant from the California Department of Aging provided the necessary resources for the Area Agency on Aging to develop this Local Aging and Disability-Friendly Action Plan. To understand how to create a Merced County community for all ages and abilities, we engaged with people who live and work here. We formed an Advisory Committee of aging and accessibility experts and practitioners, and we conducted nine (9) community listening sessions that became the basis for the recommended goals and projects in this Action Plan.
What we learned is that the existing Merced County aging and disability network of infrastructure and services has many strengths to build upon. There are established local government, nonprofit and private organizations who specifically serve seniors and people with disabilities, largely in the county’s urban centers. There are also many grassroots groups and individuals in smaller, more rural communities that have organically come together to address the service gaps that can often occur across a more geographically dispersed county.
This Plan outlines fourteen (14) tangible recommendations (see below) for how to build and strengthen relationships between these different parts of the aging and disability network in Merced County. Fundamentally, partnerships must be formed to 1) increase communications and information sharing about existing resources so more residents, especially more isolated and vulnerable community members, have access to the supports they need to stay healthy and active for as long as possible; and 2) develop door-to-door, accessible and affordable transportation methods that complement the public transportation system by connecting residents to critical services such as medical appointments, grocery shopping, and social engagement opportunities.
Create and implement a community outreach, engagement, and communications plan, and an annual events calendar.
Implement a community caregiving and volunteer network to assist older adults and people with disabilities.
Expand the reach of multilingual volunteer-driver programs to connect residents to essential services and opportunities.
Expand the availability of subsidized home repairs and accessibility modifications for older and disabled homeowners.
Implement strategies for siting and incentivizing the development of age- and disability-friendly housing units.
Collaborate to provide new or expanded senior social activities and gathering spaces.
Coordinate with transportation infrastructure decision-makers to advocate for and implement accessibility solutions.
Launch an age- and disability-inclusive awareness campaign to promote leadership opportunities in the community.
Launch a senior community garden specifically for use among local Hmong, Mien, and Laotian community members.
Collaborate with legal services providers to pilot affordable funeral and end-of-life planning services.
Assess and implement essential pedestrian safety infrastructure (e.g., stoplights, signs, sidewalks).
Collaborate with technology education providers to pilot a digital literacy program for older adults.
Implement strategies for providing and/or locating high-quality critical services in rural and unincorporated communities.
Assess and implement lighting fixtures in areas with high pedestrian traffic, to create safer walking and biking spaces.
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