Area 1 Agency on Aging to Hold First Southern Humboldt Public Meeting in Over 14 Years to Discuss 2025-26 Area Plan

The Area 1 Agency on Aging (A1AA) is inviting older adults, service providers, and interested community members to provide input on the 2025–26 Area Plan for services in Humboldt County. A1AA will hold a public hearing tomorrow, Thursday, March 20th, at the Healy Senior Center in Redway. This is the first time in over 14 years that A1AA is holding a public meeting in Southern Humboldt.

A1AA encourages community members to attend and share their feedback on proposed services for older adults aged 60 and over.

What is the Area 1 Agency on Aging?

The Older Americans Act established the California Department of Aging (CDA) and a statewide network of 33 Area Agencies on Aging (AAA). This network is tasked with addressing California’s current and future aging and long-term care needs.

A1AA serves Humboldt and Del Norte Counties, representing nearly 44,000 people aged 60 and over — approximately 24% of the population in Planning and Service Area 1 (PSA 1), according to 2020 CDA Intrastate Funding Projections.

The A1AA Area Plan and the California State Plan on Aging provide the framework for how A1AA delivers services to meet the diverse needs of older adults and their caregivers in Humboldt and Del Norte Counties.

The 2024–2028 Area Plan

A1AA has developed a 123-page Area Plan outlining planned activities through 2028 as part of a four-year planning cycle. The plan includes a process for identifying the needs of older adults and their caregivers, which helps establish the agency’s goals and objectives for delivering effective services.

The goal is to ensure that services are tailored to support the evolving needs of older adults and their caregivers.

Rising Challenges for Older Adults

According to the Area Plan, there is a growing trend of older adults becoming homeless, particularly in Del Norte County. Out of a caseload of approximately 200 people, about 60% are older adults, including many in their eighties. Most of these individuals are single, reliant on Social Security retirement, and living on less than $1,000 per month — often while managing health issues.

Many are experiencing homelessness for the first time, often due to the death of a spouse or partner and the resulting loss of income.

In Humboldt County, Arcata House has reported a rise in older adults with high health needs. Most are single women in their 70s and 80s who became homeless after living in substandard housing. Many end up sleeping in their cars, and a health crisis often triggers their homelessness.

Arcata House has identified two major barriers to addressing this issue:

• Lack of qualified In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) staff
• Difficulty finding adequate housing for older adults who need help with daily living activities, especially those who are non-ambulatory

Additionally, 49% of adults aged 60 and older in Humboldt County report feeling depressed.

What to Expect at the Meeting

Tomorrow’s meeting in Redway will provide an overview of A1AA’s findings and the services they offer to address these issues. A key goal of the 2024–2028 Area Plan is to make services easier to access and better meet the evolving needs of the community.

The Area Plan update is due on May 1st and will be submitted to the California Department of Aging.

For more information or a copy of the presentation, contact Maren Rose at mrose@a1aa.org