PURPOSEFUL AGING LOS ANGELES:THE 21st CENTURY INITIATIVE FOR AGE-FRIENDLY LOS ANGELES

MISSION

Purposeful Aging Los Angeles - an Age-Friendly Initiative - seeks to prepare the Los Angeles regionfora rapidly aging population through an innovative, sustained initiative that unites public and privateleadership, resources, ideas and strategies. Purposeful Aging Los Angeles will improve the lives ofolder adults and Angelenos of all ages.

VISION

To make the Los Angeles region the most age friendly in the world.

KEY MESSAGES

PURPOSEFUL AGING LOS ANGELES OVERVIEW

• The County of Los Angeles Community and Senior Services (CSS), the City of Los Angeles Department of Aging, AARP, the Milken Institute Centerforthe Future of Aging, the USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology and the UCLA Los Angeles Community Academic Partnership for Research in Aging have united to launch Purposeful Aging Los Angeles.

• This Initiative seeks to strengthen the Los Angeles region, improve the lives of older adults, and ensure a better future for Angelenos of all ages. It will integrate an aging framework into the broader planning activities of public and private organizations throughout the Los Angeles region.

• The time is now for the Los Angeles region to prepare for a population that is aging more rapidly and living longer than ever before.

• As this demographic shift changes the face of our community forever, leaders in and around Los Angeles have a chance to set a new standard of "age-friendliness" for regions with aging populations across the globe.

• The first step, and a central component of Purposeful Aging Los Angeles is the Los Angeles region joining the AARP Network of Age-Friendly Communities and the World Health Organization (WHO) Global Network of Age Friendly Cities and Communities.

• The Network of Age-Friendly Communities process will provide a structured opportunity for the Los Angeles region to examine and enhance current policies, programs and infrastructure across eight domains of livability: outdoor spaces and buildings, transportation, housing, social

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participation, respect and social inclusion, civic participation and employment, communication and information and community support and health services.

• As members of the Network of Age-Friendly Communities, the County and City will launch a 2- year, inclusive planning process that will involve robust engagement of key stakeholders, including older adults, all 88 cities in the County, philanthropic organizations, community organizations, businesses and educational institutions.

• During the next six months, Purposeful Aging Los Angeles will host or participate in a series of events throughout the Los Angeles region to introduce the Initiative to these constituents - including a May 18, 2016 public launch event at El Pueblo de Los Angeles and the Los Angeles County Advocacy Aging Coalition Summit on May 20, 2016.

• The 2-year planning process will culminate in the development of a three-year action plan to enhance the Los Angeles Region's age-friendliness across the 8 domains of livability.

• In order to enhance visibility and impact, Purposeful Aging Los Angeles will establish a high-level Advisory Body for the Initiative that includes elected officials, older adults and leaders from business, philanthropy, education, faith-based institutions, community organizations and other key constituencies.

UNLEASHING THE POTENTIAL OF OLDER ADULTS

• We have an opportunity to harness the untapped potential of our aging population; older adults in Los Angeles represent an extraordinary human capital resource that is hiding in plain sight.

• Older adults contribute to the economic vitality of our region as workers, entrepreneurs, investors and advisors.

• Older adults already serve our region in many ways and can enhance their contributions and improve lives when mobilized as volunteers in schools, community agencies, and faith-based organizations; as mentors and teachers for young people; as caregivers; as donors to philanthropic and social causes; and through encore careers that harness their passion, experience, wisdom and problem-solving abilities.

Unlocking the full potential of older adults will require strategic thinking and systems change that promotes lifelong learning, health, and financial security; enables older adults to age in place by creating age-friendly homes and communities; and by providing opportunities for older adults to remain actively and purposefully engaged in their communities throughout the lifespan.

KEY FACTS

• One in five Americans will be age 65 or older by 2030.

• Between 2010 and 2030, the older adult population in the Los Angeles region is expected to almost double, from approximately 1.1 million to more than 2.1 million individuals.

• The trend isforthe greatest growth to occur in the oldest age groups. For example, the age group 80 years or older is projected to grow nearly 50% from 2020 to 2030.

• Life expectancy in the Los Angeles region is on the rise, increasing from 75.8 years in 1991 to 81.5 years in 2011.

• The older adult population in the United States is expected to become more racially and ethnically diverse than ever before.

• In California, more than half a million people are living with Alzheimer's disease or related dementia. By 2030 this number will double for Whites and African-Americans and will triple for Latinos and Asians.

• Nearly 25% of households include an adult age 65 or older. More than 3.4 million Californians serve as informal caregivers to elderly and disabled individuals.

WHAT ARE AGE-FRIENDLY COMMUNITIES?

• Optimize health and security, as well as engagement and productivity, for people of all ages.

• Allow older adults to "age in place"- through increased access to open spaces, expanded transportation options, better housing options, improved health services etc.

• Profoundly influence older residents' ability to enjoy engaged and fulfilling lives while improving the lives of younger residents as well.

o Better sidewalks make walking safer for older adults, mothers, fathers and children,

o Outdoor spaces provide recreation and socialization opportunities for old and young alike!

WHAT ARE LIVEABLE COMMUNITIES?

• A livable community is safe and secure, has affordable and appropriate housing, diverse transportation options and supportive community features and services. It meets the needs of its members regardless of factors such as age, income, physical ability, and ethnicity.

• Livable communities support the needs of older adults and enable them to remain in their homes and communities for as long as possible.

• Liveable communities help sustain economic growth and make for happier, healthier residents - of all ages.

TARGET AUDIENCES

• Millennial (18-34)• Generation X (35-55)• Older Adults (55+)• Minority populations

o African-American o Asian o Latino

• News Media• Government Officials and Leaders• Business Leaders

KEY STAKEHOLDERS

• Los Angeles region Government Agencies• 88 Cities all unincorporated areas in the County of Los Angeles• USC, UCLA and other educational institutions• Private Foundations• Nonprofit organizations serving older adults• Private enterprise especially key sectors such as: healthcare, transportation, technology

HASHTAGS

• #PurposefulAgingLA• #AgeFriendlyLA

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