Solana Beach Age Friendly Action Plan
The City Council officially approved the Age-Friendly Solana Beach Action Plan on March 22nd. This plan is designed to enhance the quality of life for all residents as our demographics shift. With the population rapidly aging, it is projected that by 2030, one in five people in the U.S. will be 65 years or older, and by 2035, the number of adults over 65 will exceed the number of children under 18. The Action Plan sets forth key priorities to create a sustainable environment where older adults can thrive, accompanied by tangible action steps to bring these goals to fruition.
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all who participated in this process and extend a special token of appreciation to the San Diego Foundation, AARP, and the San Diego State University Social Policy Institute. Their invaluable partnerships played a pivotal role in our success, providing guidance through community feedback obtained via surveys, meetings with community leaders, and inclusive public workshops conducted in both English and Spanish.
View the Solana Beach Age Friendly Action Plan
Executive Summary
Solana Beach became part of AARP’s Livable Communities Network in 2021. This initiative is an affiliate of the World Health Organization’s Global Network of Age-Friendly States and Communities, an international effort launched in 2006 to help cities prepare for their own and the world’s growing population of older adults. AARP’s Network of Age-Friendly States and Communities targets improvements in eight (8) domains that influence the health and quality of life of older adults. Over the course of the past year, with input from a diverse cross-section of the City of Solana Beach residents, the Age-Friendly Solana Beach project team has prepared this Action Plan to help make the City of Solana Beach a more vibrant, equitable and livable community for all ages.
During the process, residents were asked to complete an online assessment of livability perceptions, then attend one of three (3) listening sessions to provide deeper perspective on what was already working for older adults, and where there are gaps. Results of the survey and listening sessions were presented to residents for verification and additional input, then to City staff so they could prepare to mobilize next steps.
City staff, County staff, and AARP representatives with support of the Age-Friendly Solana Beach project team, determined that the baseline survey results, and initial input pointed to five (5) key domains of livability most relevant to the City of Solana Beach:
- Outdoor Spaces & Buildings
- Housing
- Transportation
- Social Participation with Inclusion
- Communication & Information