Report Planning for California’s Growing Senior Population By Hans Johnson, Laurel Beck Aug 6, 2015 California’s senior population is entering a period of rapid growth. By 2030, as the Baby Boom generation reaches retirement age, the over-65 population will grow by four million people. It will also become much more racially and ethnically diverse, with the fastest growth among Latinos and Asians. Many more seniors are likely to be single and/or childless—suggesting an increased number of people living alone. All of these changes will have a significant impact on senior support services. We project that by 2030 slightly more than one million seniors will require some assistance with self-care, and that the demand for nursing home care will begin to increase after decades of decline. These changes will have direct budget implications for the Medi-Cal and In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) programs, both of which pay for care and services for low-income seniors. The state will need additional resources, including nursing care facilities and health care professionals, especially those who provide home- and community-based services. California’s community college system will be critical in training workers to meet the state’s health care workforce needs for the growing and changing senior population.
blog post California’s Most Isolated Seniors By Hans Johnson Apr 17, 2020 Among older Californians, the risk of social isolation during COVID-19 is especially great for those who live alone and lack internet access.
blog post Communicating to California’s Seniors about Coronavirus By Hans Johnson Mar 18, 2020 In California, protecting seniors from COVID-19 means conveying information in ways that can effectively reach a particularly diverse older population.
blog post To Speed Up Vaccine Distribution, Improve Broadband Access among Seniors By Niu Gao, Joseph Hayes Feb 25, 2021 Seniors rely on the internet to check vaccine availability and set up appointments. Disparities in broadband access may compound challenges for many communities already hit hard by the pandemic.
blog post Who Lives in California’s Nursing Homes? By Hans Johnson May 7, 2020 Nursing home residents—the overwhelming majority of whom are seniors—are less than 1% of the state’s population, but account for more than one-third of California’s COVID-19 deaths.
blog post Medi-Cal Expansion for Undocumented Seniors By Paulette Cha, Shannon McConville Feb 21, 2020 A proposed expansion of Medi-Cal would boost access to health services, including preventive care and disease management, for eligible undocumented seniors.
press release California’s Senior Population in 2030: Much Bigger, More Diverse, More Likely to Be Single, Childless Aug 6, 2015
blog post California Sees Steep Decline in Financial Aid Applications By Kevin Cook Mar 12, 2021 Far fewer California high school seniors completed the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) this year, reducing the number who may receive funding that helps provide access to higher education.
Fact Sheet Poverty in California By Sarah Bohn, Caroline Danielson, Sara Kimberlin, Patricia Malagon Oct 18, 2023 With the end of many pandemic relief programs, poverty rates—especially for children—have gone up in the last two years.
