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A North Orange County city is taking a proactive approach to strengthening senior services and looking at exactly what kinds of programs can help aging residents — not just locally, but regionally.
It comes as public officials throughout Orange County are grappling with an increasing senior population as Baby Boomers age.
[Read: Orange County Unprepared For Looming Senior Population Boom, Experts Warn]
During the pandemic, seniors — who were hit hardest by COVID-19 — struggled to get vaccines and other critical resources. Oftentimes, public health officials partnered with various community groups and health clinics to get vaccines to seniors.
[Read: Orange County Community Groups Partner to Bring Seniors to Vaccination Sites]
And in the pandemic’s fallout, seniors were among the county’s hungriest as a food cliff hit Orange County after federal and state bailout money for food drives dried up.
[Read: Orange County Seniors Are Expected to Be Hit Hardest by Incoming Food Cliff]
Now, Los Alamitos officials are increasing their focus on the growing needs of the senior population in a town where 14% of residents are 65 and older.
Editors’ Note: This dispatch is part of the Voice of OC Collegiate News Service, working with student journalists to cover public policy issues across Orange County. If you would like to submit your own student media project related to Orange County civics or if you have any response to this work, contact admin@voiceofoc.org.
City officials say the plan will serve as a roadmap to strengthen senior services across North Orange County over the next two decades.
The Los Alamitos City Council unanimously adopted the Senior Services Master Plan on Feb. 18, launching a 20-year initiative to enhance services and infrastructure for older adults across the northern part of the county.
“Los Alamitos demonstrates that every age is cared for, especially our older adult population, as their current and future needs are anticipated with thoughtful consideration,” Recreation & Community Services Director Emeline Noda said at the Feb. 18 city council meeting.
Residents from Cypress, Garden Grove and Rossmoor frequently use Los Alamitos’ senior services and amenities, according to the plan.
Los Alamitos officials are looking for inspiration from Leisure World, a well-established senior community in neighboring Seal Beach, while positioning the city as a leader in age-friendly planning for North Orange County.
Officials emphasized that the plan is not a formal partnership with neighboring cities, but they recognize that the depth of the plan plays a prominent role in regional aging support.
“Not a whole lot of cities — especially cities our size — have started to plan for what I’ll call this next evolution of what exactly city services are going to look like,” City Manager Chet Simmons said at the meeting.
The city’s location next to hospitals, medical facilities and nearby senior communities makes it a logical provider of senior services in North Orange County, reinforcing the need for structured, long-term planning, according to the plan.
Gerofusion, a consulting group, was selected to lead the project. They conducted focus groups, coordinated outreach and analyzed survey data to help create the plan.
Laura Zedel-Watson, a psychology professor at Cal State Fullerton, where she also serves on the university’s aging studies program council, said about 200 people completed the survey.
“Through our analysis, we saw significant differences in experiences between those 55 and 85,” Watson said at the Feb. 18 meeting.
The plan intends to expand efforts to repair or upgrade aging infrastructure, particularly in areas frequently used by older adults.
“Ensuring well-maintained roads, sidewalks, and public spaces supports the independence of older adults by reducing physical hazards and improving ease of movement,” reads the plan.
Public spaces will also see improved lighting, shaded seating and clear wayfinding signage to enhance accessibility and ease of movement.
“Los Alamitos residents find it easy to navigate Los Alamitos compared to other communities,” Watson said. “But the older adults were still reporting a few safety challenges, uneven sidewalks, poor lighting and difficulty accessing certain areas.”
Beyond infrastructure, the plan prioritizes health, wellness and recreation of seniors.
Watson said that while nearby cities offer programs like arthritis-friendly exercise and aqua aerobics, Los Alamitos is looking to expand its own offerings to meet growing demand.
The plan also aims to increase opportunities for social connection, as focus groups and assessments highlight loneliness and isolation as growing concerns.
“There are a lot of untapped resources there, and I think [Los Alamitos is] really excited to partner in lots of different ways,” Watson said.
To sustain these programs, the city plans to use state and federal grants as well as partnerships with nonprofits, universities and medical institutions to reduce its reliance on local tax dollars.
Mayor Shelly Hasselbrink emphasized the plan’s importance, especially as Los Alamitos continues to see a growing senior population.
“Considering this is a very large population and a growing population that we have here in Los Alamitos, us seniors aren’t going nowhere,” Hasselbrink said at the Feb. 18 council meeting.
Officials believe that by taking a proactive approach, they can create a model for other cities looking to strengthen their senior services.
“This city honors with utmost respect our older adult residents,” Noda said.
“We just want to continue this hospitality and expand our offering to continue to make Los Alamitos the prime example of a community that supports its residents to age well in their own community.”
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