POLICY PRIORITIES
Age Well CA's policy priorities outline the key next steps the next Governor and Legislature can take to address California's care crisis.
The best way to help Californians age well is by helping them continue to live safely and fully in their own homes and communities. This requires leadership from the Governor and Legislature toward the following objectives:
Secure sustainable revenue: Identify a dedicated, permanent state revenue source to fund long-term services and supports expansion so the system is not vulnerable to annual budget fluctuations that can cause dramatic changes in core services older Californians depend on.
Establish a statewide LTSS benefit: Move toward a publicly funded, statewide long-term services and supports benefit that includes expanding coverage to middle-income Californians.
Improve LTSS entry and navigation: Transform the current patchwork of programs into a cohesive system that increases Californians’ awareness of and access to available supports and services.
Expand coverage & access to Medi-Cal HCBS: Reduce barriers to Medi-Cal home and community-based services by ensuring equitable access statewide, streamlining navigation and eligibility, and preserving and investing in services, so Californians can access care without exhausting their savings.
Invest in the caregiving workforce: Strengthen the caregiving workforce by growing provider networks, raising worker wages, and advancing worker rights to ensure economic security.
Sustain cross-agency collaboration through the MPA framework: Build on the Master Plan for Aging’s success of providing a clear framework for governmental entities to coordinate and collaborate to meet the needs of older Californians and people with disabilities.