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Date: |
September 15, 2026 |
22 |
Title
Receive Update on The Aging Roadmap San Diego County Regional Plan Fiscal Year 2025-26 Annual Report (Districts: All)
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Overview
Initiated at the direction of the San Diego County Board of Supervisors (Board) on September 24, 2019 (4), the Aging Roadmap is the County’s plan to ensure the region has programs and communities that equitably support the needs of older adults. According to the 2024 population estimates from San Diego Association of Governments, more than 709,200 (21.4%) of the more than 3.3 million people currently residing in San Diego County are adults aged 60 years and older. By 2029, the number of adults aged 60 years and older who reside in the county is expected to increase to nearly 824,600. To support the projected population growth of older adults in the county over the next three years, it is essential that the County of San Diego (County) has a plan to continue to empower healthy, safe, and thriving lives.
The Aging Roadmap serves as the San Diego County regional vision and strategic framework for promoting healthy aging for all residents. It is organized by ten priority areas that collectively represent the County’s comprehensive system of care, including person-centered and community-wide approaches: Health & Community Support; Housing; Social Participation; Transportation; Dementia; Caregiver Support; Safety; Preparedness; Silver Economy; and Medical & Social Services System. The Aging Roadmap annual report highlights significant accomplishments across each of the ten priority areas as well as age-friendly efforts across the county.
The region must continue to work collaboratively and proactively to strengthen the comprehensive system of care to better support older adults, their families, and people of all ages. Today’s action requests the Board receive the Aging Roadmap San Diego County Regional Plan 2025-26 Annual Report.
This item supports the County vision of a just, sustainable, and resilient future for all, specifically those communities and populations in San Diego County that have been historically left behind, as well as our ongoing commitment to the regional Live Well San Diego vision of healthy, safe, and thriving communities. This will be accomplished by continuing to facilitate cross-departmental collaboration and regionwide partnerships to continue to support older adults and persons with disabilities through various programs and initiatives, ensuring communities are livable for people of all ages.
Body
Recommendation by Chief Administrative Officer:
Receive update on the Aging Roadmap
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Equity Impact Statement
The County of San Diego (County) Health and Human Services Agency, Aging & Independence Services (AIS) continues to collaborate across departments and with community partners to continue to meet the needs of older adults and persons with disabilities throughout San Diego County. As the older adult population grows and becomes increasingly diverse, it is essential to cultivate communities where everyone can live a healthy, safe, and thriving life. The county is home to a highly diverse population of all backgrounds, ages, and abilities. In recognition of this diversity, the Aging Roadmap affirms the County’s commitment to ensuring that all residents can age well with access to the services they need. Equity is embedded into the vision of all ten Aging Roadmap priority areas and remains central to program planning, community engagement, and efforts to improve service accessibility.
During Fiscal Year 2025-2026, community partnerships and strategic collaboration with other jurisdictions facilitated implementation of new programs to meet critical community needs. On May 27, 2026, AIS, the County Office of Emergency Services, and the City of Chula Vista co-sponsored a “Silver Stay Ready” Emergency Preparedness Resource Fair at the Norman Park Senior Center. To help prepare residents who are among the most vulnerable during an emergency or disaster, the County and several community partners provided information and resources designed to help plan for emergencies and reduce disproportionate risks faced by older adults and people with disabilities. Presentations were delivered in English and Spanish to ensure language accessibility and help residents understand important steps to take during and after a disaster.
Opportunities for diverse community input and ongoing engagement remain a foundational element of the Aging Roadmap. AIS coordinates ten community coalitions that meet regularly to gather community perspectives and create avenues for partners to support implementation efforts. Community partners will continue to play a central role in these discussions, and an equity lens will guide program planning across all Aging Roadmap priority areas.
Sustainability Impact Statement
Today’s action supports the County of San Diego’s (County) Sustainability Goal #1 to engage the community in meaningful ways; Sustainability Goal #2 to provide just and equitable access to County services, and Sustainability Goal #4 to promote the health and well-being of everyone in the region. The Aging Roadmap represents the County’s comprehensive system of care for older adults and is informed by ongoing feedback that Aging & Independence Services (AIS) receives in various settings from impacted stakeholders including the AIS Advisory Council, subcommittees, and through customer feedback surveys. Furthermore, the Aging Roadmap advances the County’s sustainability goals by increasing opportunities for older adults to live in safe and affordable housing, raising awareness of elder scams and fraud, and implementing programs that improve physical and social health.
Fiscal Impact
There is no fiscal impact associated with today’s recommendation. There will be no change in net general fund costs and no additional staff years.
Business Impact Statement
N/A
Advisory Board Statement
The Aging Roadmap Fiscal Year 2025-26 Annual Report was presented to the Aging & Independence Services Advisory Council Executive & Membership Subcommittee as an informational item on August 25, 2026.
Background
According to the 2024 population estimates from San Diego Association of Governments, more than 709,200 (21.4%) of the more than 3.3 million people currently residing in San Diego County are adults aged 60 years and older. By 2029, the number of adults aged 60 years and older who reside in the county is expected to increase to nearly 824,600. As the older adult population continues to grow, creating communities where people of all ages and abilities can thrive is more important than ever.
The Aging Roadmap is the County of San Diego’s (County) plan to ensure that the region has policies, programs, and initiatives that equitably support the needs and leverage the contributions of the growing population of older adults in our region. The Aging Roadmap is informed by ongoing community input and collaboration that began in 2016 when the County joined the AARP Network of Age-Friendly Communities America, in a commitment to create a county where all people can age well. Building upon initial age-friendly efforts, the Aging Roadmap was approved by the San Diego County Board of Supervisors (Board) on September 24, 2019 (4) and serves as the local “Master Plan for Aging” for the region. Within the Aging Roadmap are ten priority areas that collectively represent the County’s comprehensive system of care for older adults, including community-wide and person-centered efforts. These ten priority areas are:
• • Health & Community Support
• Housing
• Social Participation
• Transportation
• Dementia
• Caregiver Support
• Safety
• Preparedness
• Silver Economy
• Medical & Social Services SystemWhile led by the County Health and Human Services Agency, Aging & Independence Services (AIS), the Aging Roadmap incorporates County-wide programs and initiatives, as well as collaborations with local partners. Critical to informing Aging Roadmap goals is the AIS Advisory Council which serves as the voice of consumers and community experts, with members representing each Board District and the broader community. Additionally, several community coalitions throughout the county, consisting of stakeholders and County staff, regularly convene to address Aging Roadmap priority areas. These cross-departmental and community based collaborative efforts have amplified the voices of older adults as other County departments have developed their programs and services. Additionally, many of the goals of the County Aging Roadmap support the goals of the State Master Plan for Aging. This general alignment of the two frameworks is beneficial when seeking funding opportunities.
The County was the first jurisdiction in the region to become an Age-Friendly Community in 2016. Today, 11 cities across the county are recognized members of AARP’s Network of Age-Friendly Communities and are implementing their own Age-Friendly plans. San Diego State University is also the region’s first academic institution to earn Age-Friendly University designation. To support collaboration and provide technical assistance across this growing network, AIS convenes the Age-Friendly Regional Roundtable quarterly to share best practices and advance collective progress.
Twelve years ago, the Board approved The Alzheimer’s Project on May 6, 2014, beginning a significant contribution to the Aging Roadmap. (5). This regional initiative was launched to address the toll of Alzheimer’s disease on families, communities, and our health care systems. Through the Alzheimer’s Project, the County continues to educate the community about dementia, what it means to live with dementia, and how to create environments that are welcoming to those living with dementia, and their care partners. Additionally, physicians and other frontline workers continue to receive education and training on topics related to the screening, evaluation, and management of Alzheimer’s and related dementias. Accomplishments of the Alzheimer’s Project are highlighted in the Dementia section of the Aging Roadmap San Diego County Regional Plan Fiscal Year 2025-26 Annual Report (Attachment A).
Today’s action requests the Board receive the Aging Roadmap San Diego County Regional Plan Fiscal Year 2025-26 Annual Report.
Linkage To The County Of San Diego Strategic Plan
Today’s proposed action supports the County of San Diego 2026-31 Strategic Plan Initiatives of Sustainability (Resiliency), Equity (Health), and Community (Quality of Life), and the regional Live Well San Diego vision by strengthening the system of care for older adults and ensuring a community that is livable for residents of all ages.
Respectfully submitted,
Ebony N. Shelton
Chief Administrative Officer
Attachment(s)
Attachment A - Aging Roadmap San Diego County Regional Plan Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Annual Report