The San Diego Seniors Community Foundation introduced its large-scale countywide plant in bringing modern, sophisticated senior centers to every San Diego community with its San Diego Master Plan for Senior Centers on May 26. This report is a response to California’s Master Plan for Aging, where Gov. Gavin Newsom called for counties and cities to create specific action plans for what is needed in their communities.
SDSCF’s Master Plan provides a comprehensive analysis of the region’s senior centers, highlighting the disparities that exist in lower income neighborhoods and recommending improvements or additions needed in every community to better serve local seniors as the older population booms.
“Every senior deserves a safe, nearby place to build community, access resources and stay healthy and connected,” SDSCF Founder and Board Member Bob Kelly said in a press release. “The problem is San Diego’s older adult population is growing dramatically – there will be approximately 1 million people over the age of 60 living in our county by 2030 – and the region’s current senior center ecosystem won’t be able to provide adequate support.”
In San Diego County there are 28 senior centers, serving only an estimated 8% of the older adult population. Many of the existing senior centers are underfunded, understaffed and lack sufficient programming.
Five key areas lack a senior center altogether, and the plan outlines recommendations for Barrio Logan, Clairemont, Eastlake/Otay Mesa, El Cajon and Santee/Lakeside. Out of the 28 existing facilities, 13 are older, outdated or have extremely limited buildings and amenities and five are recommended for expansion, renovation or upgrades.
The San Diego Seniors Community Foundation has established the San Diego Master Plan for Senior Centers Capital Campaign to raise $147 million over the next 10 years to start building the network of modern senior centers needed countywide.
San Diego City Councilmember Chris Cate said to create the network of modern, well-funded and fully staffed centers the region needs require significant collaboration and coordination between government, nonprofits, business, healthcare, volunteers and the community.
County Board of Supervisors Vice Chair Nora Vargas said equitable and healthy aging is critical for the “abuelitos and abuelitas” in our county.
“Now is the time to be innovative and bring new ideas to address the challenges that we have in front of us with our growing senior population,” she stated. “If we do this right, our senior centers will provide excellent and essential support for the older population as hubs for physical, mental, social, and financial health for seniors today and for generations to come.”
To learn more about SDSCF, view the summary brochure and full Master Plan or donate to the capital campaign, visit sdscf.org/seniorcentermasterplan.
