March 2007

In this Issue: Healthcare Feature | Partner Spotlight | Calendar | Welcome New Partners | In the News | Interesting Information

“Graying in the Golden State”
Demographic and Economic Trends of Older Californians

By Sonya M. Tafoya and Hans P. Johnson

California’s population is aging rapidly. By 2030, one of every three Californians will be over the age of 50, and the proportion of the population that will be over 65 will have almost doubled from 11 percent in 1998 to 17 percent. This tremendous increase in the older population of the state will be driven primarily by the large cohort of baby boomers who will be entering retirement ages over the next few decades. Lower mortality rates will also contribute to the aging of the state’s population.

Today’s older Californians are relatively well off. Poverty rates are substantially lower for older residents than for other age groups in the state, with only about one in ten living in poverty. The primary reason poverty rates for older Californians are so low is Social Security, which provides sufficient income to lift many older Californians above the poverty threshold. The majority of older Californians derive more than 70 percent of their income from Social Security.

Read more of this article reprinted by permission from the Public Policy Institute of California...

Asian & Pacific Islander Older Adults Task Force (APIOATF)

Mission
To promote quality of life issues for Asian and Pacific Islander older adults in Los Angeles County.

About
Created by the Asian Pacific Policy & Planning Council (A3PCON) in 1986, the APIOATF is comprised of forty-eight community-based organizations and human services agencies which provide culturally appropriate programs and services to the Asian and Pacific Islander elderly in communities throughout Los Angeles County.

Representatives of member organizations and agencies meet regularly to coordinate and organize the delivery of services to Asian and Pacific Islander older adults. APIOATF’s bicultural and bilingual member organizations provide many services, including community education, health care and food distribution.

Web site
www.apioatf.org

Please join the California Partnership for Access to Treatment (CPAT)
for a complimentary luncheon and informative presentation about reducing health disparities in California.

Wednesday, March 7
11:30 am to 1:30 pm The Sterling Hotel
1300 H Street
Sacramento
Special Guest Speaker: Jeremy Cantor, Prevention Institute

Thursday, March 8
12:00 pm to 2:00 pm
The Palm Restaurant
1100 South Flower Street
Los Angeles
Special Guest Speaker: Dr. Antronette Yancey, UCLA Center to Eliminate Health Disparities

RSVP to Dorothy at
(916) 658-0144 or
via e-mail for the Sacramento luncheon

or

RSVP to Andrea at
(323) 466-3445 x 240
or via e-mail for the Los Angeles luncheon

Be sure to check out the CPAT Calendar of Events to find out about upcoming partner conferences, seminars, fundraisers, and other activities in your area. If you would like your event listed, please contact Dorothy at dorothy@perrycom.com

• AIDS Housing Alliance
• California Human Development
• California Pharmacists Association
• Fresno Black Caucus
• Harbor City/Harbor Gateway Chamber
• The Training Institute for Leadership Enrichment
• Plus three individual partners
  

New Senior Generation More Likely to be Healthy
The Washington Times
By Jennifer Harper
December 6, 2006

Getting older is getting better, according to a report released yesterday by the National Institute on Aging. Click here for the full article.

California is seeking solutions to keep its Medi-Cal program financially solvent
Ventura County Star
By Corinne Berenson
January 21, 2007

As aging baby boomers dominate the population, there is a brewing storm that threatens to financially overwhelm government programs that provide retirement benefits…California is one of four states that have taken concrete steps to encourage people to assume some responsibility for the cost of their own long-term care through partnership insurance policies. Click here for the full article.

Retirees Up Against Debt
USA Today
By Kathy Chu
January 23, 2007

Soaring health care costs are hitting seniors at a time when more employers are cutting back on retiree medical and pension benefits. Click here for the full article.

• In California, the elderly population is expected to increase more than twice as fast as the total population.

• The percentage of elderly population in California is projected to grow from 14 percent in 1990 to 22 percent in 2030.

• By 2010 the Baby Boomers will represent 25 percent of California's population.

• In 2030, Baby Boomers will likely strain services and programs required by an aging population.

• Nationally, in the early 1990s the median age of retirement steadily decreased to age 62 for men and women. This trend may change as more Baby Boomers choose to stay in the work force past the "traditional" retirement age.

From the California Department of Aging. Available at: www.aging.ca.gov

CA Access News welcomes contributions from our partners. Please contact us if you have suggestions for future events and stories by calling CPAT at (916) 658-0144, Attn: Janet.

925 L Street, Suite 1200
Sacramento, CA 95814
www.caaccess.org

Supported by America's Research Based Pharmaceutical Companies

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