Study Finds San Diego Senior Centers May Be Unprepared for Senior Population Boom

A study by the San Diego Seniors Community Foundation (SDSCF) found that San Diego County's senior center network may not be ready for projected surges in the older adult population, reports KFI A.M. County residents 60 or older could exceed 1 million by 2030. "This influx will strain the already fragile network of existing services for seniors, increasing the risk of social isolation and many other concerns," noted SDSCF Board Chair Ted Chan. "Society is not ready to deal with the reality that the national and local infrastructure is inadequate and ill-equipped to effectively serve a burgeoning senior population." According to the study, most senior centers need repairs and lack funding, with 21 of the 28 surveyed centers built at least 30 years ago. Moreover, many centers are understaffed, six lack full-time staffers, and 20 are supervised by just one or two full-time employees. "The objective of this report is to call out and inspire community leaders, politicians, and philanthropists to take action now and create solutions to improve and enrich the lives of San Diego's older adults," said SDSCF President Bob Kelly.