In 2000, older adults comprised 9.7 percent of the County’s population, and by 2030, that figure is expected to double to 18.2 percent. In response to the growing population of older adults, the Board of Supervisors today approved a motion, authored by Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda L. Solis and co-authored by Supervisor Sheila Kuehl, to adopt the strategic Age-Friendly Action Plan. The plan will enhance the lives of aging County residents in key areas such as transportation, housing, emergency preparedness, social participation, and outdoor spaces.
“With a growing older adult population, we must prepare our communities for the future of aging in Los Angeles County,” said Supervisor Solis. “By uniting LA County, the City of Los Angeles, and the entire region in this effort, we will create an age-friendly future for all of our residents. The Age-Friendly Action Plan provides a roadmap to ensure that all older adults, regardless of where they live, can thrive in their homes and neighborhoods.”
“As we age, most of us hope to remain in our homes and communities for as long as possible,” said Supervisor Sheila Kuehl. “This means we must ensure that our communities are age-friendly, and include walkable streets, easy access to grocery stores and services, as well as opportunities for older adults to stay engaged through volunteering or other community activities.”
In August 2016, Supervisor Solis authored, and Supervisor Kuehl co-authored, an action at the Board of Supervisors that directed the County Workforce Development, Aging and Community Services (WDACS) to develop recommendations for the Purposeful Aging Los Angeles (PALA) Initiative. Soon after, LA County and the City of Los Angeles joined other partners to launch PALA—a countywide effort that brought together public and private leaders who offered their resources, ideas, and strategies on ways to improve the lives of older adults and Angelenos of all ages. As part of the PALA Initiative, the County and City of Los Angeles adopted the “Age-Friendly Action Plan for the Los Angeles Region 2018-2021,” which will guide efforts over the next three years to enhance our region’s age-friendliness.
Today’s motion directs WDACS, in coordination with all pertinent County Departments and entities, to develop a plan to implement each recommendation with specific timelines, track outcomes to measure the success of each recommendation, and coordinate age-friendly implementation efforts with other cities in the County.
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CONTACT:
Michael Kapp, Communications Director, (213) 974-4111 or mkapp@bos.lacounty.gov