California Commission on Aging

Did someone call, text, or email and say you have to pay the government immediately, in a specific way, or you’ll be in trouble? That’s a government imposter. No one from the government will ever demand payment only with gift cards, wire transfers, cryptocurrency, or a payment app. Only a scammer will. ejcc.acl.gov/imposters

How does ageism in the workplace contribute to poverty among older adults? “…victims of age bias lose the chance to save enough for later life. The Elder Index…shows that over half of older Americans struggle to make basic ends meet.”

The Old Do Not Eat the Young | The Rich Eat Everyone’s Lunch | Margaret Morganroth Gullette | Only 10% of people ages 62 to 70 are financially able to retire and do, according to Teresa Ghilarducci’s sobering new book, W…

During we honor the incredible resilience and foundational contributions of older LGBTQ+ adults. As the trailblazers who fought the earliest battles for equality, they paved the way for the freedoms celebrated today.

Yet, as this generation ages, they face unique and critical challenges. In public health, LGBTQ+ status is a major social determinant of health that compounds with ageism.

Decades of systemic discrimination, social isolation, and fear of bias mean that older LGBTQ+ adults face disproportionately higher rates of physical disability, mental health struggles, and financial insecurity.

Crucially, older LGBTQ+ adults are significantly less likely to have traditional family safety nets. They are twice as likely to live alone and up to four times less likely to have children. Without these informal caregiver networks, they must rely heavily on public health and long-term care systems that are often unprepared for their needs.

Many face the devastating reality of going back into the closet just to safely access elder care.

Founded in Zimbabwe, the program takes a peer-based approach to mental health. Volunteer “Grandparents” over age 60 provide a listening ear and referrals to services when needed. Glad to hear that Friendship Bench DC is still going strong!

These grandparents sit on benches, ready to talk to strangers who need them Through Friendship Bench DC, a team of about a dozen older adults fan out across the District to sit and listen to people share their lives.

Some worrying data in Teresa Ghilarducci’s new book, Work, Retire, Repeat: The Uncertainty of Retirement in the New Economy... “Only 10% of people ages 62 to 70 are financially able to retire and do... Half of the rest are retired but have seen their living standards fall. Twenty-eight percent must keep working until they drop–or are dropped out.” https://press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/chicago/W/bo212888995.html

Celebrating Juneteenth today and reaffirming ’s commitment to freedom, equality, and opportunity for all Californians.

Happy to share this excellent recap of 's informational hearing last week about Permanent Supportive Housing for California's older adults!

Older Californians are becoming homeless faster than any other age group Almost half of California’s unhoused single adults are 50 or older.

Commissioners are gathered at the California Endowment, Sacramento, today for our informational hearing addressing permanent supportive housing for older adults. https://ccoa.ca.gov/

Sharing this Action Alert from . Urge your Senators to protect older adults’ housing assistance!

Your Voice Matters: Urge Your Senators to Protect Older Adults' Housing Assistance LeadingAge maintains relationships across Washington, DC, to ensure that policymakers understand how to best craft and support legislation and regulation to support aging services, older adults, and families across the country—and we need you to tell your story. Together, we can motivate and influ...

For those who've spent their lives stably housed, later-life homelessness is typically triggered by a traumatic event — the death of a spouse, divorce, job loss, eviction, or the onset of health issues. Older adults are also more likely to spend over half their income on housing and live on a fixed income, making them unable to keep up as costs spike (US Interagency Council on Homelessness).

Thursday, June 11, community members, advocates, and stakeholders are invited to join us at the California Endowment for an informational hearing on permanent supportive housing for older adults. RSVP: https://ccoa.ca.gov/