In response to a growing senior population, San Diego has proposed a new “Aging Roadmap”: a plan targeting the unique needs of seniors in the region. Such a plan would build on the existing Age Well initiative that began last year, which focused on affordable housing, intergenerational programs, and building a dementia-friendly community.
The Aging Roadmap plan anticipates expanding elder abuse prevention, providing more resources and support for caregivers, promoting work and volunteer opportunities for senior citizens, and improving existing medical and social services.
Additionally, hospitals seeking Geriatric Emergency Department Accreditation will receive enhanced support designed to improve medical services for seniors through staff training and better equipment. Two San Diego-based organizations from the Gary and Mary West Senior Emergency Care Unit are already certified—UC San Diego Health and West Health.
County Supervisor Dianne Jacob is spearheading the effort to improve care for the elderly community. She stated that “[Elderly care organizations] are not all working together like we should; it’s not all coordinated. [The Aging Roadmap] is an effort to bring everything together, not just within the county government but also the other partners we have out in the community.”
Countywide expansion of care services is a great step towards improving the livelihood of San Diego’s treasured senior community, and we have Supervisor Dianne Jacob to thank for the expansion of a phenomenally successful program.
