Elaine Clark, Executive Director of Napa/Solano Area Agency on Aging, left, listens to a conference participant talk about lifting an older person out of a wheelchair.

DIXON, CA - How old were you when you first looked at your parent and thought they looked old? That was the question asked recently of about 100 people gathered to learn the Master Plan for Aging in Solano County.

“When you walked in the living room and found them both napping on the couch?” asked Elaine Clark, Executive Director of Napa/Solano Area Agency on Aging. Some of the answers were when a parent needed bifocals, would not drive at night, or started going bald.

“The 60-year-old group is the largest in Solano County going from 100,000 to 148,000 through 2026,” Clark reported. “Solano residents are living longer than ever before with an average life expectancy of 80 years. Solano’s population is getting older and it’s changing Solano.”

The large meeting was organized by Solano County, Napa/Solano Area Agency on Aging, and Innovative Health Solutions to create an Advisory Committee and was held in Fairfield as a proactive response to the accelerated growth of the older adult population in California.

There was a large turnout of men and women to form a citizen advisory on Solano's aging adults. About 100 people attended the Master Plan for Aging seminar held recently in Fairfield.

“We don’t have enough convalescent homes. Home Health Aides need to get paid more. We need to build homes that have two bedrooms and can allow a wheelchair into the shower,” said Solano County Supervisor Monica Brown. “The only way to deal with this is through political action. Who are we electing that will care about this?”

Turning to the audience for workshop-style brainstorming, the tables of people were to identify gaps in services or support that help older adults and differently abled adults to maintain their quality of life. One idea was to give tax breaks to owners who rent to seniors. Other ideas were to offer discounted or free legal services for trusts and wills. Another was to develop more senior low-income condominiums, and another was to encourage co- or shared housing.

“In helping our seniors, don’t tell them to go on the computer,” exclaimed one audience member. “Provide one-on-one information or instruction or give them a paper because there are predators online when one searches for senior affordable housing.”

A woman speaks into a mic to share with other attendees about issues affecting seniors in Solano County.

There were five ‘bold’ goals listed for 2030: 1. Housing for all ages and stages. Communities will be age, disability, and dementia-friendly and will be climate- and disaster-ready. 2. Health reimagined. Seniors will have access to the services they need to live at home in communities. And will optimize health and quality of life. 3. Inclusion and equity, not isolation. There will be lifelong opportunities for work, volunteering, engagement, and leadership and will be protected from isolation, discrimination, abuse, neglect, and exploitation. 4. Caregiving that works: Seniors will be prepared for and supported through the rewards and challenges of caring for aging loved ones. 5. Affording aging. Elders will have economic security for as long as they live by increasing elder economic sufficiency.

Dr. Norma Lisenko, Executive Director for Innovative Health Solutions strongly encouraged people to get involved and listed future community meetings and work groups.

If you would like to host a listening session at an existing meeting or event, attend one, or help with one, email her at normalisenko@innovativehealthsolutions. Information can be found at www.mpsolano.com