By Jorge Casuso

June 27, 2025 -- Nearly one in five Santa Monica residents are over the age of 65, and the City is crafting an action plan to help meet their needs, City officials said.

Kicked off last summer, the project to create Santa Monica's first Aging and Disability Action Plan on Wednesday released the results of a community survey that received 485 responses.

The responses will help a recently formed advisory committee weigh the most "pressing" issues and identify "achievable goals to accomplish over the next three years," City officials said.

A study of community demographics and survey results found that more than a third of Santa Monica's elderly residents live alone and 18 percent speak limited English.

"While most older adults in Santa Monica identify as White, 30 percent are Latino, Asian, Black or other people of color," according to the survey conducted with a State grant to the City's Housing and Human Services Department.

"Disabilities are common in later life -- especially among women -- with nearly 42 percent of residents over age 75 reporting at least one disability," according to the survey.

Many seniors are also caregivers, with nearly one in four adults on the Westside supporting a loved one, according to demographic data.

Nearly 70 percent of survey respondents favorably rated Santa Monica as "an age- and disability-friendly community," officials said.

Ongoing conversations with members of the community have found common ground on the "needs and priorities" of local seniors, according to Housing and Human Services officials.

These include "a need for well-maintained, accessible sidewalks, increased public restroom availability, improved lighting and inclusive design that supports people of all abilities," according to the feedback.

There is also a growing demand for "more affordable, accessible and diverse housing options that support residents to age in the community as their needs change."

Seniors in Santa Monica also would benefit from "expanded and flexible" transportation options, including on evenings and weekends.

In addition, they are "seeking more culturally relevant, local and inclusive opportunities for connection to reduce isolation and foster community belonging."

Seniors would also benefit from more flexible volunteer or employment opportunities, and easier access to "civic participation," as well as more coordinated health serives and expanded access to in-home care.

Santa Monica is among nearly 100 communities across California that are building or implementing age- and disability-friendly action plans with State grants.