Section 1. Welcome Letter

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. While Merced County is a lead governmental partner, the initiative is cross-sectoral, its success relying on contributions from organizational partners and individuals across the public, private, and nonprofit sectors. It will take all of us to accomplish the goal of making our communities more livable and accessible for older adults, people with disabilities, and their caregivers. So let’s get to it!

The mission for greater inclusivity and accessibility has never been more necessary. According to the California Department of Aging, by 2030, for the first time in California’s history, older adults aged 60 and over will outnumber those under the age of 18. By 2040, California’s older adults are projected to comprise 28% of the total population. These are demographic changes to celebrate. People are living longer and staying more active later in life than ever before. While adaptations are necessary, changing demographics present an opportunity for communities that are well prepared. Well-designed, age- and disability-friendly communities foster economic growth and make for happier, healthier residents.

As you read this Local Aging & Disability-Friendly Action Plan (LADAP), we encourage you to think about the ways you can be involved in transforming your community. The recommendations for change outlined in this Plan are both large and small, shorter term and longer term. The key is shifting the way we design community. If we all adopt an age- and disability-friendly mindset in how we approach our lives, our work, and our contributions to community, changes both large and small will materialize. There are many inspiring examples already.

We all want health and happiness for ourselves and our loved ones. The close-knit, down-to-earth communities across Merced County embody that spirit of care and camaraderie more than anywhere else. We take care of each other, in good times and bad. That is our greatest asset. Together, with helpful guidance from this Action Plan, we can do even more to support the older and disabled loved ones in our lives.

Thank you for partnering with us on this important initiative!

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