Economic security is essential to aging. Yet, retirement income is being outpaced by the rising costs of housing, health, and care. Individual retirement savings are lower than previous generations, and private pensions are declining. As a result, more older residents are reliant on Social Security income alone, which is not enough in one of the most expensive states in the country. Women are particularly at risk due to fewer Social Security earnings and longer lifespans.
Middle-income and vulnerable county residents will have a network of affordable and accessible support to meet their needs.
By connecting with the Aging & Disability Resource Connection (ADRC), residents will have a trusted community partner to provide help and guidance in learning about affordable options for the community services they seek.
Sacramento County has workforce development resources designed to meet the needs of people with disabilities and older adults. The Sacramento Employment and Training Agency funds programs to train and connect vulnerable residents, including refugees, with employment opportunities. ACC Senior Services provides low-income seniors with paid skills training at local non-profits and government agencies, and the Agency on Aging Area 4’s Mature Edge program offers interactive job readiness sessions to prepare older adults for a successful job search.
The California Department of Rehabilitation administers the largest vocational rehabilitation and independent living program in the country, helping job seekers with disabilities obtain competitive employment in integrated work settings. InAlliance and Pride Industries prepare and help place people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in good jobs and support them to achieve their career goals.
Legal Services of Northern California and the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation both provide advocacy services to help safeguard valuable household assets. The Veterans Service Office assists veterans and qualified dependents with Veterans Administration (VA) benefit entitlement determinations and filing claims and educates them about “claims sharks” so they keep the benefits they deserve.
From our community needs assessment, we heard from county residents that, for many older adults, their retirement incomes cannot keep pace with the rising costs of housing, transportation, and long-term care. People with disabilities, veterans, immigrants and refugees, and communities of color need sufficient employment and continuing education opportunities as they age. Residents also expressed the need for services that protect their financial resources. Those include tenant, civil and patients' rights’ education and advocacy, and education and protection against financial scams and identity theft.
Community awareness of Sacramento County’s Aging & Disability Resource Connection (ADRC) increases by 100%.
Older adults, residents with disabilities, and caregivers will know where to go for help; they will have access to enhanced information and guidance to navigate health and mental health resources, long-term care, and other services through the ADRC of Sacramento County.
Implement a county-wide age-friendly and accessibility awareness and celebration campaign that promotes the Aging & Disability Resource Connection (ADRC) as the “No Wrong Door” system navigator.
The community assessment identified gaps in services and obstacles to accessibility. The listening sessions also revealed that there are services in existence that people do not know about or face barriers to access. Services for older adults are administered by federal, state, local, and private sector providers, which results in a complex and fragmented system. To address the difficulty of navigating services, the Aging & Disability Resource Connection (ADRC) of Sacramento County opened in July 2024. Many older adults, people with disabilities, and caregivers in Sacramento County are unaware of the ADRC and do not know where to call for reliable assistance to access necessary services.
The ADRC of Sacramento County is operated by the Agency on Aging Area 4. The ADRC is a free, accessible and centralized resource to assist anyone seeking information, guidance, or assistance accessing long-term care services and supports. The ADRC initiative originated as a collaboration between the State of California, the federal Administration for Community Living, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, and the Veterans Administration. Part of the California Master Plan for Aging is a vision to create a “No Wrong Door” system across the state: the vision of the ADRC is that every community will have a highly visible, reliable, and universal access point that provides information and facilitates equitable access to long-term care services and support.
An awareness and celebration campaign promoting the ADRC as the “No Wrong Door” system navigator would require funding for ongoing broad and targeted outreach activities and advertising, as well as for the hiring of additional ADRC case managers to handle the anticipated increase in call volume. Outreach and advertising activities may include, but are not limited to, press releases and news stories, targeted social media and digital ads, in-person outreach at well-attended programs and community events, radio and TV ads, public transit ads, and billboards.
Implement an age and disability-friendly business certificate program to inform customer service strategies and discounts, and to educate private business owners and employees about accessibility improvements. By supporting local businesses, everybody wins.
To achieve an age and disability-friendly Sacramento County, this Action Plan and the broader accessibility movement must reach beyond the existing system of care to promote a culture where older adults and people with disabilities feel comfortable in their environment to be independent for as long as possible. This program would aim to recognize and promote Sacramento County businesses and organizations that adopt an age and disability-friendly lens and demonstrate a commitment to meeting the needs of people with disabilities and older adults.
A business certificate program would offer both online and in-person training and coaching, and voluntary site inspections, for interested organizations and staff members. Core training modules would include recognizing age and disability bias, practicing age and disability-friendly principles, and designing accessible and inclusive consumer experiences. In addition, there could be opportunities for networking and peer learning.
By completing the program, businesses would obtain a certificate — to be renewed on a yet-to-be-determined frequency — and a seal or decal to use on their storefront, as well as in marketing, employment postings, and other collateral. The seal communicates that the business has incorporated age and disability-friendly design and values into its operations. The County may also publish an inventory of businesses who have earned the certificate, helping consumers choose which merchants to frequent.
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