Locals join leaders planning for aging population

Panelists at the White House Conference on Aging in Washington D.C.

The White House Conference on Aging was held July 13, 2015, bringing together older Americans, caregivers, government officials, members of the public, business leaders, and community leaders to discuss a vision for aging in the next decade. The event offered an opportunity to plan for the acceleration of the demographic shift that began in 2011, as members of the baby boom generation began to reach retirement age.

The event was live-streamed to "watch party" events in Santa Barbara, Santa Maria, San Luis Obispo, and other cities nationwide. Residents could participate for the entire day or several hours, and share in the conversation with local colleagues. Representatives from the offices of Congresswoman Lois Capps, County Supervisor Salud Carbajal, and State Senators Das Williams and Hannah-Beth Jackson joined the local forums for discussions about local needs and priorities, continuing conversations that began at the Public Forum in January.

Some 30 individuals attended in Santa Barbara, 10 in Santa Maria and six in San Luis Obispo. Issues raised at the local debriefs were varied. Santa Barbara attendees suggested better financial, social, and human services support for caregivers. Santa Maria attendees suggested reauthorization of the Older Americans Act to support aging in place, and budgeting human services funds for current and emerging senior needs. San Luis Obispo attendees suggested expanding congregate health facilities to serve those who now fall through the cracks, revising health and social services rules to expand eligibility and benefit amounts, and closing the digital divide for seniors.

The local watch parties were sponsored by agencies including Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo County Departments of Social Services, the Santa Barbara Foundation, and the Area Agency on Aging.