FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DATE: August 15, 2019
CONTACT: Scott Murray | (916) 654-3304
SACRAMENTO – California Health and Human Services (CHHS) Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly today announced the establishment of a Master Plan for Aging Stakeholder Advisory Committee. In January, as part of his first State of the State Address, Governor Gavin Newsom called for a creation of a Master Plan for Aging. Also, the Governor issued an Executive Order tasking CHHS to convene a Cabinet Workgroup for Aging and a Stakeholder Advisory Committee to develop and issue a Master Plan by October 1, 2020.
“This is our time to come together to build an age-friendly California”, said Dr. Ghaly. “Government cannot do this alone — I challenge all Californians to join us in building a California Dream that is inclusive of our older and disabled neighbors.”
“The Golden State is getting grayer and we need to be ready for the major population changes headed our way,” stated Governor Newsom in announcing the Master Plan for Aging. “An aging population will introduce new opportunities for economic and community growth but also drive increased health and long-term care costs. We need a plan that brings everyone to the table – local communities, labor, private sector and philanthropy – to help us understand what’s coming and guide us toward taking better care of older Californians.”
The Stakeholder Advisory Committee will work across sectors to develop a roadmap that envisions a future where all Californians, regardless of race, economic status or level of support, can grow old safely, with dignity and independence. The Stakeholder Advisory Committee will advise the Cabinet Workgroup on Aging in the development of the Master Plan.
This diverse group of stakeholders with varying expertise and experiences will help to develop components of the Master Plan, including best practices and data metrics, to guide the work of state government, local communities, private organizations and philanthropy to build environments that promote an age friendly California.
Last week, Governor Newsom and Former First Lady of California, Maria Shriver, announced the Alzheimer’s Prevention and Preparedness Task Force. The Task Force will develop recommendations for how local communities, private organizations, businesses, government, and families can prevent and prepare for the rise in the number of cases of Alzheimer’s Disease, while navigating a path forward to combat this disease in a time of historic demographic change. Together, these two efforts help shape our work in building an age-friendly California.
Dr. Ghaly appointed the following individuals to the Stakeholder Advisory Committee:
Maya Altman
Health Plan of San Mateo
Jan Arbuckle
City of Grass Valley
Jose Arevalo, MD
Sutter Health
Kathryn Barger
County of Los Angeles
Kristina Bas-Hamilton
United Domestic Workers
Donna Benton, PhD
USC Family Caregiver Support Center
Catherine Blakemore
Disability Rights California
Cheryl Brown
California Commission on Aging
Laura Carstensen, PhD
Stanford University Center on Longevity
Janny Castillo
St. Mary’s Center
Bruce Chernof, MD
The SCAN Foundation
Berenice Nunez Constant
AltaMed Health Services
Jennie Chin Hansen
Former CEO of the American Geriatrics Society
Le Ondra Clark Harvey, PhD
California Council of Community Behavioral Health Agencies
Craig Cornett
California Association of Health Facilities
Susan DeMarois
Alzheimer’s Association
Peter Hansel
CalPACE
Clay Kempf
Seniors Council of Santa Cruz and San Benito Counties
Mercedes Kerr
Belmont Village Senior Living
Darrick Lam
ACC Senior Services
David Lindeman, PhD
Center for Information Technology Research in the Interest of Society
Shelley Lyford
Gary and Mary West Foundation
Marty Lynch
LifeLong Medical Care
Jeannee Parker Martin
LeadingAge California
Christina Mills
California Foundation for Independent Living Centers
Kevin Prindiville
Justice in Aging
Jodi Reid
California Alliance for Retired Americans
Rigo Saborio
St. Barnabas Senior Services
Judy Thomas, JD
Coalition for Compassionate Care
Fernando Torres-Gil, PhD
University of California, Los Angeles
Debbie Toth
Choice in Aging
Nina Weiler-Harwell, PhD
AARP California
Brandi Wolf
Service Employees International Union
Heather Young, PhD, RN
University of California, Davis
Today, Dr. Ghaly also announced the launch of a public engagement campaign, Together We ENGAGE. Dr. Ghaly is calling on all Californians to share their ideas and suggestions on how we can collectively build an age-friendly California.
“Engaging Californians in a conversation about how we build an age-friendly California is critically important to the development of the Master Plan,” said Dr. Ghaly. “I urge Californians to submit a pledge to engage with us and share their ideas.”
Complete the Pledge for Action, here.
For more information on the Master Plan for Aging, click here.