SENATE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS

Senator Anna Caballero, Chair

2023 - 2024 Regular Session

AB 2410 (Wallis) - Meal program: senior citizens

Bill Summary:

AB 2410 would specify that programs that are required to provide at least one hot meal per day for seniors, must provide the hot meal either served hot or made available for to-go pickup for reheating at home.

Fiscal Impact:

Unknown potential General Fund cost pressures to the extent that providing “to-go” meals would be more costly.

Background:

Federal law establishes the Older Americans Act to promote the well-being of Americans 60 years old and above through services and programs designed to meet their needs. Existing state law requires the state to to create an annual state plan to implement the Older Americans Act of 1965 and submit the plan to the federal government for approval.

Current state law requires the state plan to include:

• Establishment of projects which, five or more days per week, provide at least one hot meal per day and any additional meals which the contracting agency or organization may elect to provide, each of which assures recommended dietary allowances;
• Provision of such nutrition projects for individuals aged 60 or over who are eligible;
• Furnishing of sites for such nutrition projects in close proximity to concentrations of eligible individuals’ residences, such as schools, churches, senior centers and facilities serving the aging;
• Utilization of administrative methods to assure maximum participation of eligible individuals;
• Provision of special menus, where feasible, to meet particular dietary needs arising from health or religious requirements or ethnic backgrounds;
• Provision of settings conducive to including, as a part of such projects, recreational activities, information, health and welfare counseling, and referral services;
• Provision of appropriate modes of transportation essential to maximum participation of eligible individuals confined to their homes;
• Establishment and administration of such projects with the advice of persons competent in the field and of older Californians who will themselves participate in the program.
• Nutrition education.

Proposed Law:

AB 2410 would amend the state plan requirements to specify that programs that provide at least one hot meal per day for seniors must provide the hot meal either served hot or made available for to-go pickup for reheating at home.

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SENATE COMMITTEE ON HUMAN SERVICES

Senator Alvarado-Gil, Chair

2023 - 2024 Regular

Subject: Meal program: senior citizens

SUMMARY

This bill allows sites distributing meals through the Congregate Meals Program to provide meals served either hot or available as “to go” meals that can be reheated at home.

ABSTRACT

Existing Law:

1. Establishes, in federal law, the Older Americans Act, which promotes the well-being of Americans 60 years old and above through services and programs designed to meet their needs. (42 United States Code [USC] 3001, et seq.)
2. Establishes the McCarthy-Kennick Nutrition Program for the Elderly Act of 1972. (WIC 18325)
3. Recognizes the area agencies on aging (AAAs) to be the local units on aging in California that are supported by federal funding, state and local governmental assistance, the private sector, and individual contributions, and assigns duties to those AAAs. (WIC 9402)
4. Requires the California Commission on Aging, with the approval of the Secretary of California Health and Human Services, to create an annual state plan to implement the Older Americans Act of 1965 and submit it to the federal government for approval (WIC 18326)
5. Requires the state plan to include: nutrition projects that provide at least one hot meal on site five or more days a week to eligible people 60 years old or older; requires those nutrition projects to be near concentrations of eligible individuals’ residences; administrative methods to assure maximum participation of eligible individuals; provision of special menus, as specified; host projects in settings that allow for recreation, counseling, and referral services; provide appropriate modes of transportation; administration by people with relevant expertise; and nutrition education. (WIC 18327)
6. Requires between 10 percent and 20 percent of all funds expended for nutrition services to be available for meals to individuals in their residences. (WIC 18327.1)
7. Establishes the Nutrition Reserve Fund under the control of the Director of the Department of Aging and requires local AAAs to review local requests for funding from the fund. (WIC 18331)

This Bill:

1. Allows sites that administer nutrition projects, pursuant to the McCarthy-Kennick Nutrition Program for the Elderly Act of 1972, to make at least one meal per day served hot or available to be picked up and reheated at home.

FISCAL IMPACT

According to the Assembly Appropriations Committee analysis of the March 21, 2024 version of this bill:

“The California Department of Aging (CDA), on behalf of the California Commission on Aging (COA), estimates, at a minimum, needing an additional $250 million annual General Fund investment based on the increased number of individuals served by older adult nutrition programs with federal relief funding made available to the Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) during the COVID pandemic.”

“To effectively provide one meal a day, five times per week, to all qualifying older adults, CDA anticipates at least COVID-19 level funding. These funds would be allocated to all 33 AAAs to provide local meals to eligible individuals aged 60 and over.”

“This cost represents 1.15 million older Californians estimated to be living in poverty (less 200,000 currently participating in older adult nutrition programs), receiving one meal at an estimated cost of $14 per meal, five times a week, taking into account existing funding sources. This calculation does not take into account the state oversight costs or other necessary oversight, infrastructure and overhead required at the local level.”

BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION

Purpose of the Bill:

According to the author, “This bill will allow our local senior food service programs to have continued flexibility to provide to-go meals that many seniors have come to rely on. During the pandemic, we granted flexibility to the congregate meal program, by allowing meals to be picked up on a to-go basis. Cities in my district and around the state saw positive results. It is a chance to take a valuable lesson learned during the pandemic and improve service to our seniors. With rising food costs, it is vital that we provide flexible solutions for our seniors who are vulnerable to food insecurity.”

Services for California’s Older Adults

The CDA administers programs that serve older adults, adults with disabilities, family caregivers, and residents in long-term care facilities throughout the state. It administers funds allocated under the federal Older Americans Act, the state Mello-Granlund Older Californians Act, and through the Medi-Cal program.

CDA contracts with and provides leadership and direction to the 33 AAAs operating in California. AAAs play a key role in planning, developing, coordinating, and delivering a wide range of services and supports to consumers in their local planning service areas. They directly manage federal- and state-funded services that help older adults find employment; support older and disabled individuals to live as independently as possible in the community; promote healthy aging and community involvement; and assist family members serving as caregivers.  They function as a community link at the local level for development of home- and community-based services provided under CDA’s programs.

Services provided by AAAs, or through their contracts with community providers, include: home adaptation funding; provision of assistive devices; support groups; nutrition programs, including congregate nutrition programs and home-delivered meal programs; disease prevention and health promotion programs; family caregiver support programs, including training and education; and supportive services programs. CDA develops guidance, identifies promising practices, and provides technical assistance to AAAs on effective strategies to better serve specific groups that have historically been underserved.

McCarthy-Kennick Nutrition Program for the Elderly Act of 1972

The Older Americans Act mandates states to create a plan to provide hot meals to older adults both at designated facilities and delivered to homes. This led to the enactment of the McCarthy-Kennick Nutrition Program for the Elderly Act of 1972. This act created the Older Adults Nutrition Program, which requires at least one hot meal a day be provided five or more days a week in senior centers and other locations throughout the state through the Congregate Meals Program, and food delivered thorough the Home-Delivered Nutrition Program for people 60 and over who are homebound due to illness or disability. Beyond food, the programs also provide nutrition related services such as nutrition education, risk screening, and counseling. According to the California State Plan on Aging, during fiscal year 2018-19, “nearly 6.9 million congregate meals and more than 11 million home-delivered meals were provided to a total of 212,725 people.”^[1] Meals provided through the Congregate Meal Program are funded with Title III C-1 funds and Home- Delivered Nutrition is funded through Title III-C-2 funds, per federal law. This bill amends the Congregate Meals Program by allowing food to be picked up at these sites to be eaten at home, or eaten hot on site.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the nutrition programs were modified to continue providing meals to seniors while following appropriate safety protocols. Changes to the program included more meal offerings including breakfast and weekend meals, adding “to go” options to congregate meals, and increasing the number of meal vendors. Since the end of the COVID-19 Major Disaster Declaration, CDA has issued guidance to AAAs that explained changes that would be incorporated as they to return to normal operations. This includes allowing to go meals to be funded through Title III C-1 funds but only if there is an in-person or virtual interaction.^[2] Also, recently updated federal regulations allow 25 percent of the food served in Congregate Meal Programs to be “to go” options.^[3]

California Older Americans Act: State Plan on Aging 2021-2025

In order to receive federal funding, the Older Americans Act requires the state to designate a state agency as the sole state agency to create a state plan for services and administer that plan.^[4] In California, CDA is the entity that creates the plan. In the 2021-2025 state plan, the department identified six priorities for aging along with goals and objectives to achieve those priorities. Those priorities are:

1. Public Information and Assistance
2. Home and Community Living
3. Long-Term Care Residents’ Rights and Well-being
4. Inclusion, Equity, and Prevention of Isolation and Mistreatment
5. Partnerships, Including with Tribal Organizations, Counties, Health Care, and Local Leaders
6. Modernization of CDA and Strengthened Support for Aging “Hubs and Spokes” Statewide

To achieve the first priority, Public Information and Assistance, CDA has set a goal to support home and community living by empowering “people to live in homes and communities of choice by supporting nutrition, health and well-being, caregiving, and other services and supports through a diversity of culturally competent and in language providers.” The first objective to achieve that goal is to expand “equitable access to nutrition and nutrition information building on the record setting number of meals made distributed during the COVID-19 pandemic.” One of the strategies to achieve this expansion in access includes increasing the number of meals available “to go,” specifically to “explore emerging innovations in older adult nutrition programs, such as intergenerational community meal settings and ‘to go’ meals.”^[5] This bill aims to increase to the use of “to go” meals by giving all facilities the option to provide them.

The city of Calimesa saw unexpected benefits to their grab- and- go meal program for seniors administered by their Family Services Association. During the pandemic the program allowed seniors to maintain access to free meals while remaining safe, but it also attracted new people to their senior center where they learned about the services and activities available to them for the first time. According to city officials, their congregate meal program attracted 10 to 15 people before the pandemic, since then it has grown to 230 participants with 160 people being served every week. They have also seen increased participation in their other senior programming.

Related/Prior Legislation:

AB 1968 (Jackson, 2024) would require the Department of Social Services (CDSS), by January 1, 2026, and annually thereafter, to establish a system for automatic enrollment in the CalFresh program for individuals who meet eligibility requirements of the Supplemental Security Income/State Supplementary Program (SSI/SSP), and individuals who would otherwise meet the requirements for SSI/SSP, but are ineligible solely due to immigration status. AB 1968 was held in the Assembly Appropriations Committee.

AB 3135 (Eduardo Garcia, 2020) would have required the California Commission on Aging to study the impact of malnutrition on older adults in all health care settings in this state and to monitor the influence of malnutrition on older adults’ health care costs and outcomes and quality indicators, among other duties related to the prevention of malnutrition in older adults. AB 3135 failed passage in the Assembly Aging and Long Term Care Committee.

COMMENTS

This bill seeks to codify the practice of offering “to go” meals for seniors through the Older Adults Nutrition Program. Hunger takes a severe toll on seniors’ health and nutrition, putting them at risk for chronic health conditions. Some seniors are more likely to face hunger due to racial and economic inequality, or if they have a disability.

The practice of allowing participants in the program to pick up meals and eat them at home instead of eating them in a communal space began as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The success of the “to go” process has led CDA and the federal government to make changes to the program that allow local providers the flexibility to provide meals “to go” within certain limitations. This bill puts that flexibility into state law.

PRIOR VOTES

POSITIONS

Support:

City of Thousand Oaks
Cleanearth4kids.org
Leadingage California
League of California Cities

Oppose:

None

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1. https://aging.ca.gov/download.ashx?lE0rcNUV0zZW4jD5nrNRAA%3d%3d ↑

2. Guidance for Area Agencies on Aging Regarding Return to Standard Operations for the Older Americans Act Programs Post-COVID-19 Major Disaster Declaration. February 3, 2023. https://www.aging.ca.gov/download.ashx?lE0rcNUV0zYKzcWhqig9%2bg%3d%3d ↑

3. OAA §1321.87(a)(1)(i-iii) ↑

4. Sec. 305(a)(1) ↑

5. ibid ↑

ASSEMBLY THIRD READING

ATR Bill Id:AB 2410

Author:(Wallis)

As Amended Ver:May 16, 2024

Majority vote

SUMMARY

Requires the McCarthy Kennick Nutrition Program for the Elderly Act of 1971 (Nutrition Program Act) to require projects that provide, at least five days a week, at least one meal per day and any additional meals the contracting agency or organization may elect to provide for individuals 60 years of age or older be made available hot or made available for to-go pickup for reheating at home.

COMMENTS

According to the California Older Americans Act: State Plan on Aging 2021-2025, Older Americans Act Core Programs Supportive Services (Title III C) provide nutrition services through two programs.^[1]

Congregate Nutrition (Title III C-1) This program provides meals to older adults at senior centers and other locations throughout the state. In addition to meals, the program provides nutrition education, nutrition risk screening, and, in some cases, nutrition counseling.

Home-Delivered Nutrition (Title III C-2) The Home-Delivered Nutrition Program provides nutritious meals, nutrition education, and nutrition risk screening to people 60 and over who are homebound due to illness or disability or who are otherwise isolated.

According to a recent report by Feeding America food insecurity has negative effects for individuals across the age spectrum, but particularly for seniors and older adults; these effects can be particularly problematic given the unique health, economic, mobility and nutritional challenges that can come with aging.

Having a disability is strongly associated with food insecurity. Seniors with a disability had food insecurity rates over twice as high as seniors without disabilities (13.4% compared to 5.0%). For older adults, the disparity is even greater. Older adults with disabilities had food insecurity rates more than three times as high as older adults without disabilities (26.1% compared to 7.2%).

Extensive work has studied the connection between food insecurity, nutrition, and chronic health conditions. Findings from the 1999-2016 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (published as part of the 2021 release The State of Senior Hunger) showed that food insecure seniors and older adults consume lower quantities of key nutrients such as iron and protein and are more likely to have chronic health conditions such as depression and limitations in daily activity.^[2]

A recent CDC study^[3] showed food insecurity interacts with chronic conditions. The study observed higher health care costs in the presence of this interaction for those who were food insecure and had poor health than for those who were food secure. The prevalence of food insecurity and chronic health conditions among older adults is a public health concern.

Meals on Wheels released an analysis of 38 selected studies and found a link between receiving nutrition services and experiencing the following primary health and well-being outcomes:^[4]

1. Reduced use of costly health care services.
2. Reduced nursing home use and increased ability to age in place.
3. Reduced health care costs attributed to reduced hospital and nursing home spending.
4. Increased food security.
5. Improved diet quality.
6. Reduced or slowed decline in nutritional risk.
7. Reduced social isolation and loneliness.
8. Reduced falls and increased home safety.

According to the Author

"With rising food costs, it is vital that we provide a to-go option for seniors who are food-insecure. Many seniors are required to take prescriptions during meal-times and these schedules can be different than congregate meal schedules. Cities in my district reported an increase in seniors served when they were able to provide meals to-go during the COVID-19 pandemic. We should take this lesson and improve our state services to this vulnerable population by continuing to provide meals to-go."

Arguments in Support

The City of Calimesa writes in support, "The Senior Meal Program at the City of Calimesa Senior Center is an excellent example of the pandemic forcing a change in a program which resulted in something much better than had existed before. When the pandemic hit and our large senior community, many of which are on fixed incomes, needed alternatives to get their required nutrition, Family Services Association instituted .a grab-and-go meal program, wherein our seniors could pick up, without leaving their vehicle, nutritionally balanced meals. Initially, the program attracted approximately 60 participants, far exceeding our usual attendance of 10-15 for our congregate meals, which was the extent of our meal program prior to the pandemic. However, since that time, the program has grown to 230 participants, with about 160 people being served every week. Many seniors in the region, not just in Calimesa, have come to rely on this program as a lifeline. Additionally, as our senior center re-opened for in-person activity, we have seen tremendous increases in participation for our senior programs, including bingo, arts and crafts, and our very popular Fit After 50. Many of our new patrons learned of our programs because of their participation in the grab-and-go program since they would not have otherwise come to our center."

Arguments in Opposition

None on file.

FISCAL COMMENTS

According to the Assembly Appropriations Committee this measure creates no additional state costs.

VOTES

ASM AGING AND LONG-TERM CARE: 5-0-2

YES: Bains, Cervantes, Friedman, Joe Patterson, Rodriguez

ABS, ABST OR NV: Mathis, Blanca Rubio

ASM APPROPRIATIONS: 11-0-4

YES: Wicks, Arambula, Bryan, Calderon, Wendy Carrillo, Mike Fong, Grayson, Haney, Hart, Pellerin, Villapudua

ABS, ABST OR NV: Sanchez, Dixon, Jim Patterson, Ta

UPDATED

VERSION: May 16, 2024

CONSULTANT: Elizabeth Fuller / AGING & L.T.C. / (916) 319-3990 FN: 0002999

1. https://www.aging.ca.gov/download.ashx?lE0rcNUV0zZW4jD5nrNRAA%3D%3D ↑

2. https://www.feedingamerica.org/research/state-senior-hunger ↑

3. https://www.cdc.gov/pcd/issues/2018/18_0058.htm ↑

4. https://www.mealsonwheelsamerica.org/learn-more/research/the-case-for-meals-on-wheels-sept23 ↑

Date of Hearing: May 1, 2024

ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS

Buffy Wicks, Chair

ABPCA Bill Id:AB 2410

Author:(Wallis) – As Amended Ver:March 21, 2024

Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program: No Reimbursable: No

SUMMARY:

This bill requires the California Commission on Aging (COA) to include in the annual state plan, required pursuant to the McCarthy-Kennick Nutrition Program for the Elderly Act of 1972, the establishment of projects that provide at least one meal per day provided by a contracting agency or organization to be made available for pick-up by individuals 60 years of age or older.

Specifically, this bill:

1. Requires the COA, in its annual submission of a state plan for implementing the federal Older Americans Act of 1965, as amended, pursuant to the McCarthy-Kennick Nutrition Program for the Elderly Act of 1972, to include the establishment of projects that, five or more days a week, provide at least one meal per day and any additional meals the contracting agency or organization may elect to provide, to be made available for to-go pickup by eligible individuals 60 years of age or older.
2. Specifies the meal made available is not required to be hot or ready-to-eat at the time of pickup.

FISCAL EFFECT:

The California Department of Aging (CDA), on behalf of COA, estimates, at a minimum, needing an additional $250 million annual General Fund investment based on the increased number of individuals served by older adult nutrition programs with federal relief funding made available to the Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) during the COVID pandemic.

To effectively provide one meal a day, five times per week, to all qualifying older adults, CDA anticipates at least COVID-19 level funding. These funds would be allocated to all 33 AAAs to provide local meals to eligible individuals aged 60 and over.

This cost represents 1.15 million older Californians estimated to be living in poverty (less 200,000 currently participating in older adult nutrition programs), receiving one meal at an estimated cost of $14 per meal, five times a week, taking into account existing funding sources. This calculation does not take into account the state oversight costs or other necessary oversight, infrastructure and overhead required at the local level.

According to the Legislative Analyst’s Office, the General Fund faces a structural deficit in the tens of billions of dollars over the next several fiscal years. 

COMMENTS:

1. Purpose. According to the author:

With rising food costs, it is vital that we provide a to-go option for seniors who are food-insecure. Many seniors are required to take prescriptions during meal-times and these schedules can be different than congregate meal schedules. Cities in my district reported an increase in seniors served when they were able to provide meals to-go during the COVID-19 pandemic. We should take this lesson and improve our state services to this vulnerable population by continuing to provide meals to-go.

1. Background. Senior Nutrition. According to a recent report by Feeding America, food insecurity has negative effects for individuals across the age spectrum, but particularly for seniors and older adults; these effects can be particularly problematic given the unique health, economic, mobility and nutritional challenges that can come with aging.

Existing law, the McCarthy-Kennick Nutrition Program for the Elderly Act of 1972, establishes the Nutrition Reserve Fund to maintain existing nutrition services and to lending moneys to senior nutrition projects. The program also requires, by May 1 of each year, the COA to develop and submit to the federal government a state plan for implementing the federal Older Americans Act of 1965. The state plan, among other requirements, must include establishing programs for seniors which, five or more days per week, provide at least one hot meal per day and any additional meals which the contracting agency or organization may elect to provide, each of which assures recommended dietary allowances.

The state plan provides for nutrition services through two programs, Congregate Nutrition (Title III C-1) and Home-Delivered Nutrition (Title III C-2). The Congregate Nutrition program provides nutritious meals to older adults at senior centers and other locations throughout the state. The Home-Delivered Nutrition program provides nutritious meals to people 60 years of age or older who are homebound due to illness or disability or who are otherwise isolated.

Anecdotally, during the pandemic some senior centers previously providing congregate meals on-site instead provided to-go meal programs wherein seniors could pick up meals to take home. The City of Calimesa, speaking of the Senior Meal Program at the City of Calimesa Senior Center, writes in support:

When the pandemic hit and our large senior community, many of which are on fixed incomes, needed alternatives to get their required nutrition, Family Services Association instituted a grab-and-go meal program, wherein our seniors could pick up, without leaving their vehicle, nutritionally balanced meals. Initially, the program attracted approximately 60 participants, far exceeding our usual attendance of 10-15 for our congregate meals, which was the extent of our meal program prior to the pandemic. However, since that time, the program has grown to 230 participants, with about 160 people being served every week. Many seniors in the region, not just in Calimesa, have come to rely on this program as a lifeline.

This bill requires providing pick-up meals for eligible seniors to be a permanent part of the state plan for meeting senior nutrition needs.

Master Plan for Aging (MPA). California’s senior population is growing faster than any other age group. By 2030, over 25% of the population in California will be 60 and older. In January of 2021, the Governor released his MPA, which prioritizes the health and well-being of older Californians and the need for policies that promote healthy aging. This bill advances three of the goals of the MPA regarding the needs and wellbeing of older Californians.

Analysis Prepared by: Jennifer Swenson / APPR. / (916) 319-2081

Date of Hearing: April 16, 2024

ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON AGING AND LONG-TERM CARE

Jasmeet Bains, Chair

ABPCA Bill Id:AB 2410 (

Author:Wallis) – As Amended Ver:March 21, 2024

SUBJECT: Meal program: senior citizens

SUMMARY: Requires the McCarthy Kennick Nutrition Program for the Elderly Act of 1971 (Nutrition Program Act) to include the establishment of projects that would provide, at least five days a week, at least one meal per day and any additional meals the contracting agency or organization may elect to provide for individuals 60 years of age or older.

Specifically, this bill:

1. Allows the contracting agency or organization to provide an option that may be made available for pickup.
2. Specifies the meal made available for pick up is no required to be hot or ready-to-eat at the time of pick up.

EXISTING LAW:

1. Establishes, in federal law, the Older Americans Act (OAA), which promotes the well-being of Americans 60 years old and above through services and programs designed to meet their needs. (42 United States Code (USC.) § 3001, et seq.)
2. Establishes the Mello-Granlund Older Californians Act (Act), which establishes CDA, and sets forth its duties and powers, including, among other things, entering into a contract for the development of information and materials to educate Californians on the concept of “aging in place.” (WIC § 9100 et seq.)
3. Establishes the California Commission on Aging (Commission) to serve as, among other things, an advocacy and advisory body and an information source. (WIC § 9200 et seq.)
4. Establishes the Nutrition Program Act which includes, among other things, the Nutrition Reserve Fund for the purpose of maintaining existing nutrition services and providing financial assistance to existing nutrition services. (WIC § 18325 et seq.)
5. Requires as a part of the Nutrition Program Act, the Commission, with the approval of the Secretary of California Health and Human Services (HHS) to develop and submit to the federal government a state plan for implementing the OOA by May 1^st of each year. (WIC § 18326
6. Requires the Secretary of HHS, in coordination with the Director of CDA, to lead the development and implementation of the MPA established pursuant to Executive Order N-14-19. (WIC § 9850)

FISCAL EFFECT: This bill has not yet been analyzed by a fiscal committee.

COMMENTS: Author’s Statement: “With rising food costs, it is vital that we provide a to-go option for seniors who are food-insecure. Many seniors are required to take prescriptions during meal-times and these schedules can be different than congregate meal schedules. Cities in my district reported an increase in seniors served when they were able to provide meals to-go during the COVID-19 pandemic. We should take this lesson and improve our state services to this vulnerable population by continuing to provide meals to-go.”

BACKGROUND

California’s aging population is growing faster than any other age group. By 2030, over 25 percent of the population in California will be 60 and older.^[1] The population in the state is becoming more racially and ethnically diverse, and yet the COVID-19 pandemic impacted Californians disparately.

California is projected to be one of the fastest growing States in the nation in total population. In 2016, California comprised 12 percent of the nation's population^[2] and is expected to grow 30 percent by the year 2060 (an increase of 11.7 million people.^[3] . In California, the population aged 60 years and over is expected to grow more than three times as fast as the total population and this growth will vary by region.

The population over age 60 will have an overall increase of 166 percent during the period from 2010 to 2060. More than half the counties will have over a 100 percent increase in this age group. Nearly half of these counties will have growth rates of over 150 percent. These counties are located throughout the central and southern areas of the State. The influence of the 60 and over age group on California is expected to emerge most strongly between 2010 to 2030.3

The population over age 85 will increase at an even a faster rate than those over 60 years of age, having an overall increase of 489 percent during the period from 2010 to 2060. Counties can expect to experience even higher growth rates after 2020. In particular, the influence of the 85 and over age group on California will emerge most strongly between 2030 to 2040 as the first of the baby boomers reach 85 years of age.3

Life expectancy continues to rise,^[4] however during 2019-2021 overall life expectancy for Californians fell from 81.4 years to 78.4 years. For Hispanics, life expectancy declined by nearly 6 years, a difference three times greater than their white counterparts. And the difference between those in California’s highest and lowest income brackets increased by three-and-a-half years to greater than 15 years (11.5 years before the pandemic to more than 15 years in 2021).^[5]

The World Health Organization defines health as “a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.”^[6]

According to the California Older Americans Act: State Plan on Aging 2021-2025, Older Americans Act Core Programs Supportive Services (Title III C) provide nutrition services through two programs.^[7]

Congregate Nutrition (Title III C-1) This program provides meals to older adults at senior centers and other locations throughout the state. In addition to meals, the program provides nutrition education, nutrition risk screening, and, in some cases, nutrition counseling.

Home-Delivered Nutrition (Title III C-2) The Home-Delivered Nutrition Program provides nutritious meals, nutrition education, and nutrition risk screening to people 60 and over who are homebound due to illness or disability or who are otherwise isolated.

According to a recent report by Feeding America food insecurity has negative effects for individuals across the age spectrum, but particularly for seniors and older adults; these effects can be particularly problematic given the unique health, economic, mobility and nutritional challenges that can come with aging.

Having a disability is strongly associated with food insecurity. Seniors with a disability had food insecurity rates over twice as high as seniors without disabilities (13.4% compared to 5.0%). For older adults, the disparity is even greater. Older adults with disabilities had food insecurity rates more than three times as high as older adults without disabilities (26.1% compared to 7.2%).

Extensive work has studied the connection between food insecurity, nutrition, and chronic health conditions. Findings from the 1999-2016 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (published as part of the 2021 release The State of Senior Hunger) showed that food insecure seniors and older adults consume lower quantities of key nutrients such as iron and protein and are more likely to have chronic health conditions such as depression and limitations in daily activity.^[8]

A recent CDC study^[9] showed food insecurity interacts with chronic conditions. The study observed higher health care costs in the presence of this interaction for those who were food insecure and had poor health than for those who were food secure. The prevalence of food insecurity and chronic health conditions among older adults is a public health concern.

Meals on Wheels released an analysis of 38 selected studies and found a link between receiving nutrition services and experiencing the following primary health and well-being outcomes:^[10]

1. Reduced use of costly health care services.

2. Reduced nursing home use and increased ability to age in place.

3. Reduced health care costs attributed to reduced hospital and nursing home spending.

4. Increased food security.

5. Improved diet quality.

6. Reduced or slowed decline in nutritional risk.

7. Reduced social isolation and loneliness.

8. Reduced falls and increased home safety.

Master Plan for Aging: In January of 2021, the Governor released his Master Plan for Aging (MPA). The MPA prioritizes the health and well-being of older Californians and the need for policies that promote healthy aging. The MPA serves as a blueprint for state government, local government, the private sector, and philanthropy to prepare the state for the coming demographic changes and continue California’s leadership in aging, disability, and equity.

After work began on the MPA, the COVID-19 pandemic reached California. The virus disproportionately harmed older and other at-risk adults, and it strained aging and disability services that were perpetually underfunded. Worldwide, older adults experienced unprecedented death rates. California’s diverse population saw disproportionate numbers, particularly among Latino, Black and Asian Pacific Islander communities and those living in nursing homes. The pandemic intensified social isolation.

The work plan laid out in the MPA three years after its release continues to highlight the urgent needs facing California’s older adults, people with disabilities, caregivers, their families, advocates and the workforce supporting these populations..

In 2024-25, the MPA outlines five bold goals and currently seeks to advance 95 initiatives to build a California for All Ages by 2030. Each initiative features a designated area of focus; to deliver, to analyze and to communicate. It also includes a Data Dashboard on Aging to measure progress. AB 2410 can be linked to Goals Two, Three and Five of the five bold goals:

• Goal One: Housing for All Ages and Stages
• Goal Two: Health Reimagined
• Goal Three: Inclusion and Equity, Not Isolation
• Goal Four: Caregiving That Works
• Goal Five: Affording Aging

Argument in Support: The City of Calimesa writes in support, “The Senior Meal Program at the City of Calimesa Senior Center is an excellent example of the pandemic forcing a change in a program which resulted in something much better than had existed before. When the pandemic hit and our large senior community, many of which are on fixed incomes, needed alternatives to get their required nutrition, Family Services Association instituted .a grab-and-go meal program, wherein our seniors could pick up, without leaving their vehicle, nutritionally balanced meals. Initially, the program attracted approximately 60 participants, far exceeding our usual attendance of 10-15 for our congregate meals, which was the extent of our meal program prior to the pandemic. However, since that time, the program has grown to 230 participants, with about 160 people being served every week. Many seniors in the region, not just in Calimesa, have come to rely on this program as a lifeline. Additionally, as our senior center re-opened for in-person activity, we have seen tremendous increases in participation for our senior programs, including bingo, arts and crafts, and our very popular Fit After 50. Many of our new patrons learned of our programs because of their participation in the grab-and-go program since they would not have otherwise come to our center.”

Argument in Opposition: None.

REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION:

Support

CalPACE

City of Calimesa

Riverside County Supervisor Yxstian Gutierrez

Opposition

None on file.

Analysis Prepared by: Elizabeth Fuller / AGING & L.T.C. / (916) 319-3990

1. Projections | Department of Finance (ca.gov) ↑

2. https://factfinder.census.gov ↑

3. http://www.dof.ca.gov/Forecasting/Demographics/Projections ↑

4. https://longevity.stanford.edu/the-new-map-of-life-initiative/ ↑

5. https://newsroom.ucla.edu/releases/covid-life-expectancy-drops-by-race-and-income ↑

6. https://www.who.int/about/governance/constitution ↑

7. https://www.aging.ca.gov/download.ashx?lE0rcNUV0zZW4jD5nrNRAA%3D%3D ↑

8. https://www.feedingamerica.org/research/state-senior-hunger ↑

9. https://www.cdc.gov/pcd/issues/2018/18_0058.htm ↑

10. https://www.mealsonwheelsamerica.org/learn-more/research/the-case-for-meals-on-wheels-sept23 ↑