Appendix A. Assessment Findings

Between February 2022 and August 2024, Sacramento County, with outreach and facilitation support from consulting firm, Pear Street, and numerous public and private community partners, conducted twenty-six (26) listening sessions. Over 500 residents participated, representing the diversity of ages, genders, races, ethnicities, incomes, and geographies across the county.

The planning team initially characterized the unmet needs identified in the listening sessions using AARP’s eight domains of livability. The needs were later translated into recommended solutions that align with the California Master Plan for Aging's five bold goals.

The following pages summarize the top priorities and needs shared by listening session participants, using AARP’s eight domains of livability.

Civic Participation & Employment

1. Tenant, civil and patients' rights’ education and advocacy

2. Protection against scams, identity theft, and elder abuse

3. A greater role in community design, planning, and policy decisions

4. Ongoing community engagement and listening opportunities

5. Employment and continuing education opportunities for:

   1. People with disabilities

   2. Veterans

   3. Immigrants and refugees

   4. Communities of color

   5. LGBTQ+ residents

6. Wraparound support for new immigrants and refugees

   1. Including help reuniting with family members overseas 

Communications & Information 

1. Communications about community resources (including funding), opportunities, events, and emergency preparedness/planning

2. Information distributed through diverse, accessible, and consistent communications channels

3. Outreach and service delivery available in multiple languages, including but not limited to:

   1. American Sign Language

   2. Spanish

   3. Chinese

   4. Hmong

   5. Dari

4. Information in written, braille, large print (sans serif 18-point or larger font), audio, digital, visual and in-person formats, including websites that are accessible to screen enlarging and other adaptive software

5. Communications supported by technology education and access to low-cost computers, smartphones, and other devices

Health Services & Community Supports 

1. Affordable, accessible meals and food, clothing, housing, transportation, and healthcare, especially for:

   1. Immigrants and refugees

   2. Vulnerable and low-income residents in unincorporated areas

2. Aging in place resources and support services, including, but not limited to:

   1. Caregiving

   2. Home and yard maintenance

   3. Meal prep and delivery

   4. Reading and writing assistance

3. Affordable, accessible education, training, and respite for informal caregivers

4. Wage growth and recruitment of paid caregivers

5. Affordable long-term care and mental health services

6. Easy-to-navigate public health and welfare programs and benefits

7. Home visitor programs and wellness checks

8. Healthier food at housing developments and food banks

9. Memory and dementia care

10. Low-cost or free bonded and insured delivery services of prescription medications and drugs, including opiates

11. Behavioral health peer support services for people with disabilities provided by practitioners with the same disabilities

12. Sufficient resources and agreements in place for transit dependent people, including those with special transportation needs, in disaster preparedness evacuation planning

Housing 

1. Affordable housing for low-income residents on a fixed income

2. Housing designed and accessible for older adults and people with disabilities

   1. Housing modifications for persons with disabilities should include those needed by people with vision loss, including appropriate lighting, stair striping, and thermostats and appliances with accessible controls.

3. Housing inclusive of alternative models, such as:

   1. Mobile home parks

   2. In-law units

4. Housing with friendly and responsive owners and property management

5. Housing with access to basic goods and services, including transportation

6. In-house or mobile case management for larger communities

7. Habitability and accessibility barriers addressed in a reasonable amount of time

   1. Emergency repair assistance

Outdoor Spaces & Buildings  

1. Solutions to public safety concerns related to interacting with the unhoused population along pedestrian walkways and roadways

2. Solutions to mobility, accessibility and safety concerns related to walking or wheeling in neighborhoods, on sidewalks, along streets, and at crosswalks

   1. More sidewalks and wider sidewalks to accommodate mobility devices, such as wheelchairs, walkers, and scooters

   2. Level sidewalks and practical landscaping design

   3. More, consistent accessible pedestrian signals at intersections, and mid-block crossings equipped with pedestrian signals

   4. Curb ramps with detectable warning surfaces; accessible pedestrian signals with audible beaconing capability to assist in making a street crossing; pedestrian signals with leading pedestrian interval phase; and upon the activation of the pedestrian signal, the ability to extend pedestrian crossing timing; wayfinding apps to assist with complex street crossings

   5. Enforcement of shared mobility devices, such as electric scooters and bicycles, obstructing sidewalks, crosswalks, and pathways

   6. Outreach, education, and resources for accessible design

Respect & Social Inclusion   

1. All solutions should be imbued with a cultural practice of acceptance, respect, love and inclusivity for people with disabilities and older adults

2. Sacramento County residents demand an age-friendly and accessible culture change in its outreach and resource delivery, including culturally appropriate resources and culturally competent and sensitive caregivers and providers 

Social Participation    

1. Affordable and accessible social engagement opportunities

2. Opportunities that decrease isolation and loneliness, and build friendships and support systems

3. Opportunities that are inclusive of group activities, social events, and day trips

4. Opportunities that encourage sharing, learning, and physical and intellectual engagement

Transportation    

1. Affordable or free transportation options

2. Reliable, consistent, and flexible schedules, with frequent trips, including those outside of normal business hours

3. A diversity of options for different needs and abilities:

   1. On-demand scheduling

   2. Door-to-door assistance

   3. Multilingual and culturally competent drivers

4. Covered stops/stations with seating, trash cans and restrooms

5. Primarily for routine destinations, such as care appointments, grocery shopping, and social activities

6. Maintain bus stops on the public sidewalk; do not place bus stops on islands, as a method of separating Class IV bicycle lanes from vehicular traffic; bus stops on islands require pedestrians to cross uncontrolled bicycle traffic, which can cause conflicts between pedestrians and bicyclists

7. Same day paratransit and micro-transit service 

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