A Female Perspective on the Graying of California Sandi Fitzpatrick, MA, Executive Director California Commission on Aging

Commissioners at USC’s Gerontology Center

CCoA  For 40 years the California Commission on Aging has served as the principal state advocate on behalf of older Californians.  The work of the Commission helps to shape policies and programs that meet the needs of older Californians today and in the future.  We recognize that a sincere discussion of aging must also include the ramifications on families and communities.  The CCoA serves as a citizen’s voice in state government.

The Commission envisions … a robust statewide service system that supports older adults and their caregivers, provides an array of resources for independent living, embraces diversity and respects the aging process.

What is your image of aging?

The Boomers Arrive million The changing face of California

Approximately 34,500 Californians turn 65 every month

Factors that lead to Longevity  Antibiotics  Immunizations  Smoking cessation  Improvements in public health system  Chronic disease management  Technology

Changing Demographics  By 2045 the number of people age 60 and older will be higher than the number of children worldwide for the first time in history  In CA the fastest growing age group is age 80+

The Golden State is turning ….. Platinum

A Snapshot of Older Californians % with HS diploma or higher 20%limited English proficiency 20% Medi-Cal beneficiaries 45% women living alone 43% with a disability Over 120,00 grandparents have responsibility for basic needs of grandchildren

Geographic Distribution  The Los Angeles Basin and the San Francisco Bay Area are now home to two-thirds of the state’s older population.  While every region, except the most rural areas of the state, is expected to experience strong growth in its 60+ population, the largest increases are predicted for the Los Angeles Basin and the San Joaquin Valley, where the number of older people is expected to almost triple by  By 2040, the rapidly aging Bay Area population is projected to become the oldest area of the state, with 41 older adults per 100 working-age adults.

Percentage of Population over 65 years Projected 2030

Ethnic Projections

 Currently at and below age 45, males outnumber females by 5 percent.  By age 65, females outnumber males by 40 percent and by three-to-one at age 90.  Older women are at increased risk of poverty, poor health, and social challenges due to their longer lifespan.  The gender gap is expected to decline by Gender Demographics or why Aging is a Woman’s Issue

Income & Poverty  One thousand people turn 65 every day in California and will continue to do so for the next seventeen years.  Women make up the majority of the age 65+ population and due to a confluence of events and factors end up living (longer) in poverty

Older Women & Poverty  20% of older Californians live in poverty – average income of $25,000/year  One in five (20.2 percent) of single older women live below the federal poverty level while another 32.2 percent have incomes that are higher, yet still fall below California’s Economic Security Index, which reflects the actual costs of meeting basic needs in each of California’s counties.  Older women of color are at greatest risk of poverty, with over 60 % of all single elders of color facing economic insecurity. Source: UCLA Center for Health Policy Research, The Hidden Poor: Over Three Quarters of a Million Older Adults Overlooked by Federal Poverty Line, August 2015.

Health  In 2002, the three leading causes of death for individuals over the age of 65 were cardiovascular diseases, cancer and stroke – accounting for 61% of all deaths.  Falls are the leading cause of injury death.  133 million Americans in 2005 had at least one chronic condition. The proportion of the population diagnosed with chronic illnesses increases with age and is felt more strongly in minority and low-income populations.

Long Term Care  The likelihood of using TTC services increases with age.  The likelihood of becoming disabled in two or more ADLs or of developing cognitive impairment is 68% among those age 65 and older, meaning that almost 7 out of 10 seniors will have substantial needs for supportive care.  Almost half of all seniors will enter a nursing home at some point in their lives, even if only for a short rehabilitative stay.

Paying for LTC in California.  42% of Californians over age 40 say they can’t afford more than one month of nursing home care.  65% say they can’t afford more than 3 months.  Median private pay for nursing home services averages 224% of an older person’s annual income.

Alzheimer’s Disease  More than half a million Californians are living with Alzheimer’s disease today.  1-in-9 Americans over 65 has Alzheimer’s disease and one-third of Americans age 85 are afflicted with the illness.  5.3 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease, a number that is expected to triple by  Alzheimer’s disease is the sixth leading cause of death in America.

Impact of Caregiving  CA family caregivers provided 4.1 billion hours of care valued at $57 billion in  57% of informal caregivers in CA are women.  Women leave the workforce to provide care and in turn reduce their lifetime earnings.

How does society view older adults?

We have come to far to be treated like this

Longevity Dividend ….  For some there are opportunities and advantages to living longer – more time for grandchildren, civic engagement, mentoring and other life-enriching activities.

The Take Aways ……….  Yet sooner or later many older women will experience the prejudices and inequity of growing old – invisible.  Many older women end up living alone, are more susceptible to abuse and are more likely to need skilled nursing care.  They are likely to have less income in retirement.

A CALL TO ACTION  More advocates & Expanded partnerships  Livable Communities  Embrace intergenerational activities  Attitude shift in society  Policy Focus on System Change  Resources

Aging is a mixed bag …. you don’t know when you start what your bag is going to contain….

California Commission on Aging 1300 National Drive, Suite 173 Sacramento, CA (916) Marian Last, LMFT, CCoA Chair Sandi Fitzpatrick, MA, Executive Director AGE. RIGHT. CALIFORNIA