Opinion articles provide independent perspectives on key community issues, separate from our newsroom reporting.

Letters to the Editor

SLO County needs more services for seniors, aging workforce

The article “Graying nomads,” from Feb. 9, couldn’t be more timely in connection to the efforts that the San Luis Obispo County Commission on Aging is putting forth to increase community awareness of the serious and far-too-often tragic living environment for seniors in this county. Affordable housing and access to health and social services support have been just a few of our major advocacy priorities for many years.

According to the 2013 California Elder Index, a third of seniors older than 65 in SLO County cannot support their basic needs. Sixty percent of single-female heads-of-household have incomes below the Real Cost Measure (Google it!).

“The Silver Tsunami” is already here. We need the courage in our county to develop the housing needs that are long overdue.

Kathleen Bellefontaine, chairperson, San Luis Obispo County Commission on Aging

This story was originally published March 3, 2016 at 8:57 PM with the headline "SLO County needs more services for seniors, aging workforce."

Get unlimited digital access
#ReadLocal

Try 1 month for $1

CLAIM OFFER