Resources

In January 2025, residents of Los Angeles County survived extensive wildfires and navigated its aftermath. Widespread evacuations resulted in the displacement of many older adults, who faced heightened risks due to mobility limitations, chronic conditions, sensory impairments, reliance on medications and medical equipment, and increased exposure to smoke and stress.  

The Newsom administration released the proposed 2026-27 budget on January 9, kicking off the annual budget process. 

The rising costs of long-term services and supports (LTSS), also known as long-term care, are one of the biggest—and least understood—risks facing older adults and their families. Nearly 70 percent of Americans will need LTSS, yet most lack meaningful protection against the financial and practical challenges that come with needing help over time. Middle-income families are especially vulnerable, often earning too much to qualify for Medicaid while being unable to afford high out-of-pocket expenses. 

Most older adults want to remain at home as they age, yet rising costs of health care and long-term services and supports (LTSS), also known as long-term care, and a fragmented care delivery system create barriers to doing so. This is particularly true for older adults with low incomes, who often experience complex care needs and chronic conditions. Efforts to integrate care for this population (e.g. coordinating Medicaid and Medicare services, integrating health care and housing) have had varying levels of success, and many remain siloed or face issues of scalability.

Rural older adults face distinct realities that California’s statewide planning must address. To support equitable solutions, we are pleased to share three new policy briefs. These briefs provide legislators and advocates with clear, actionable recommendations to address the needs of rural older adults, a population that is growing rapidly and already straining under workforce shortages, housing insecurity, and health disparities.

H.R.1, the federal reconciliation act signed into law in July 2025, will have significant impact on older Californians and Californians with disabilities. Medi-Cal, Medicare, Affordable Care Act (ACA) premium tax credits, and CalFresh will be scaled back, limiting access to these vital programs.  

This breakdown from The SCAN Foundation details how the enacted budget for California’s fiscal year (FY) 2025-26 budget will affect older adults and people with disabilities in California. 

This breakdown from The SCAN Foundation details how Governor Newsom’s revised proposal for California’s fiscal year (FY) 2025-26 budget will affect older adults and people with disabilities in California. 

This searchable resource captures more than 30 years of federal legislation, policy proposals, private market solutions, and research to address the rising costs and limited accessibility of long-term services and supports.

This policy brief can help California leaders and policymakers prepare for California’s rapidly growing older adult population. By leveraging deep insights, this brief contributes to age-friendly policy planning and equitable access to care.

Many Americans still lack access and the ability to afford long-term services and supports. This Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC) report highlights bipartisan paths to tackle the long-term care crisis.

The 2023 LTSS Scorecard results highlight California’s continued progress toward a high performing LTSS system, while underscoring key opportunities for improvement.

Caring for a loved one impacts the health and financial well-being of many older Californians – findings from a 2022 survey of adults age 55 and older in California.