California caregiving & politics
Mapping the Golden State's future
California is once again in the national spotlight for numerous reasons:
Fire crews are still fighting hard to get the upper hand on several wildfires scorching the state.
President Biden Monday made a Cali pit stop to talk infrastructure, climate change and to stump for California Governor Gavin Newsom.
That’s because today Californians are casting their votes in a special recall election of the democratic Governor.
The first term governor is fending off a challenge from a number of GOP candidates looking to take control of this progressive, diverse and traditionally blue state. California is also the state with the highest Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the country and fifth in the world.
In simple terms, that means California is a leading economic engine for the United States and major driver on the global stage. Whomever leads the Golden State has the potential to shape policy decisions for years to come impacting millions.
As you might imagine many Californians on both sides of the aisle are closely watching the evolution of this recall election and the results.
What does this have to do with family caregiving? Well… a lot.
California caregiving
When you are in the thick of caregiving (as many of us have been and are) we may not necessarily think about the connection to politics.
But think about it. We need lawmakers to have awareness that our population is aging. We need decision-makers to understand and acknowledge that such a demographic shift will have tangible impacts to our society and economy.
An aging population means the need for:
Increased medical services & care providers
Housing, transportation and support for family caregivers
Employment and insurance options.
Especially for California, policy-makers must also take into account a diverse population with a host of races, cultures, languages and the urban-vs-rural divide. Not to mention, geographic differences between regions; some with and without solid internet connectivity. How do we reach all of these groups and make sure our elders are cared for?
Master Plan for Aging
California is one of only four states which has developed and implemented a Master Plan for Aging. What is that? Well think of it as a road-map for the best ways to invest in addressing the needs of the rapidly growing population of those over 65 and those over 85.
U.S. Census data indicates those age groups are projected to outnumber children by 2035. That date is just around the corner!
Courtesy: California Department of Aging/Screen Shot
When Governor Newsom took office, in one of his first addresses to the state he announced a task force would move forward in researching and gathering data with the goal of crafting a Master Plan for Aging.
The inclusion of such an initiative caught my attention, because at the time I was in the thick of working full-time, caring for my mother (who was declining) and losing my mind trying to figure out how I was going to manage everything.
Determined to learn as much as I could and to get involved, I attended one of the first meetings of the task-force charged with developing this plan and produced an on-air news segment (Courtesy: KHSL-TV).
I won’t lie. It seemed as if there would be lots of bureaucratic red tape to cut through before any of us would see applicable help getting to the people who need it most (I’m always a skeptic).
But I also realize change must start somewhere. It is only when elected leaders acknowledge that our population is aging and realize that how we care for elders AND those caring for THEM must change… will increased support services evolve.
In January, 2021 the governor unveiled the California Master Plan for Aging. Some of the key goals include making the state ‘age-friendly’ by 2030. That concept is not new, as AARP works with communities to help them identify ways to make communities more age-accommodating. But the MPA covers the entire state. The key points of the plan focus on:
Housing
Health
Inclusion & equity
Caregiving that works
Affordable aging
Will all issues be solved overnight?…doubtful. Will every single person find solutions? Probably not.
But, if you haven’t already, I recommend setting aside a bit of time to dig around on the California Department of Aging website to learn more about local and regional resources.
If you know someone who is NOT internet savvy perhaps you can find information and pass it along to them.
Be sure to SUBSCRIBE to the Keeping it REAL Caregiving newsletter to receive more developments from the MPA & other resources
Politics & family care
I have never been one to advocate having a ‘one-issue-only’ mindset when it comes to making decisions of which political candidates to support.
Courtesy: Adobe Stock
But it seems to me if there is an issue that connects ALL of us (getting older and caring for our loved ones) it would be wise that we demand our elected leaders include aging and family care in their policy arsenal. Just saying...
Now, if you are in California and have not yet done so…go vote. What do you think about the California recall election? Join the conversation - let me hear from you!
Until next time ~ Ciao!