First in a series about how better access to data is improving care for older Californians.
California strives to be a golden state for everyone. We all seek meaning, dignity, and purpose throughout our lives. As we age, these values become even more important.
By 2030, one in four Californians will be over 60 years old. As our population ages, we need a clear, coordinated system to deliver quality care for older adults, individuals with disabilities, and caregivers, both now and for generations to come.
An executive order by Gov. Gavin Newsom in 2019 called for the development of a multisector Master Plan for Aging (MPA) – a 10-year, data-driven framework to build communities where people of all ages and abilities can live, age, and thrive. It was a call to action for state and local leaders, advocates, and community members to work together to create more inclusive and equitable systems of care.
Many communities face challenges in accessing the care and support they need. Accessible data helps enable communities to advocate for themselves, ensures accountability, and promotes health and well-being for those most at risk. With accurate information, communities can better understand emerging issues and develop thoughtful, informed solutions.
Measuring What Matters
At the California Department of Aging, I’ve had the honor of working on the MPA Data Dashboard, a tool to centralize transparent and publicly accessible data. It established ambitious objectives across five areas: housing, health, inclusion and equity, caregiving, and affordability.
From the start, the dashboard needed to be more than just a repository for numbers. Working alongside remarkable partners like the California Department of Public Health, the nonprofit West Health, and the California Aging and Disability Research Partnership, we identified what to measure and how to convey that data in meaningful, actionable, and accessible ways.
The dashboard organizes data around the five MPA goals, along with these outcome indicators:
- Older adult homelessness, acknowledging one of the most urgent and growing problems in our state.
- Psychological distress, highlighting the significance of mental and behavioral health.
- Caregiver burden, reflecting the essential role of family caregivers and the professional workforce.
- Direct care workforce, recognizing the rising demand for professional caregivers.
Tools like population projections and county-level profiles, including printable one-pagers, make it easier to understand the needs of older adults across California. Users can explore data visualizations of demographic trends, health indicators, and service access at the state or local level. This data supports planning, advocacy, and program development for policymakers, advocates, researchers, and other interested Californians.
Many local governments and planning teams have used the MPA Data Dashboard as a resource in their own jurisdictions. Santa Barbara County, for example, relied heavily on the dashboard while developing its own master plan. We provided technical assistance throughout the process, and it was encouraging to hear how intuitive and helpful county planners found the dashboard, especially because many didn’t consider themselves “data people.” Building a tool to help decision-makers engage with data confidently and effectively, illuminating areas for focused investment, was a huge accomplishment.
Evolving to Meet Community Needs
This dashboard is a dynamic tool that is continually evolving. California may have been the first state with an MPA, but many others are now following suit. Collaborating nationally has enabled us to share our insights as others create their dashboards – and to learn from the experiences of other states as we refine our own dashboard.
The MPA is not just a plan for today’s older Californians; it’s a long-term blueprint to assure generations to come age well throughout the lifespan. The MPA invites all of us to create communities where people can grow older with dignity, connection, and purpose. Whether we are older adults ourselves, caring for loved ones, or imagining our futures, we all have a role to play in ensuring older adults thrive.
If you haven’t yet, I encourage you to explore the dashboard and see for yourself how data can be a powerful force for equity, inclusion, and change.
You can also follow the Department of Aging on LinkedIn and Facebook to learn more about the programs and services available to support older Californians, people with disabilities, and family caregivers.
