"California is facing a tidal wave of aging baby boomers," said Assemblyman Dave Jones, a Sacramento Democrat. "We need to act now to ensure that we provide adequate health care, housing, and protection from financial and other forms of abuse."

Assemblywoman Patty Berg, a Eureka Democrat who chairs the Assembly committee on aging, said California will be the "grayest state in the nation," exceeding the elderly population of Florida by 2020.

The number of residents age 65 and over — about 4 million of California's total population of 36 million — will nearly double in relation to the total population by 2020, according to a report by the AssemblyCommittee on Aging and Long-Term Care.

"No state has ever seen a demographic shift like this," said Berg. "There is no roadmap because it's never happened before. That's why it's crucial that we begin planning now. California is either going to get ready or get swamped. It's really that simple."

Watch for legislation to try to sort out the myriad of various departments to provide better services to meet this incrase.

Growth opportunities? More demand for health care workers, certain types of housing and transportation alternatives.

Gillian Parrillo
The Sacramento Executive