how the population is going to go depending on diagnosis, I would say on on the current standing of food and insecurity on, on what their economic security is on what they're able to afford, because that is also connected, and what they're able to afford with regards to food because if they don't have that they're gonna choose the most easiest one.


to address the elder, which you know, there is a tension to it.


But it's not. It's not the way that I see that it should be. In nursing homes, you have things that are pretty much dictated by by CMS and kind of regulators In that sense, but being in a nursing home and experience in it as well, it's not, it's not always what's printed on paper, but it's what's seen in there. And it's, and it seems like it's that at times, it feels like it's a cookie cutter for all and it's not. Really put investment on those and really have a very good assessment on those and kind of projections toward that in order for, for us to be able to do our job for us and be able to care for them, for us to be able to get them back on their feet. In a you know, just I would say programs are always looking as to how to cost save, and how to get things a lot, a lot more quicker, easier. And regardless of what it is, you know, if there's a change condition, you know, this is this is as much as you have, and then from there, we just kind of move on and obviously kind of on to the next person. And we you know, we forget about that person, you know, unless unless they continue to kind of vouch. I mean, we always touch different people, but we really don't know. So there's no real, you know, I kind of bounced around it around there as well. But I do feel knowledge is very important.


Thank you for sharing. So now thinking about economic security, how or why are older adults struggling


okay, economic insecurity, security is, is at the very interesting topic, I would say for those that are those are at the poverty or cost of living, I think choices is very important. How they choose what to do, you know, what the current setup and where and what they're getting. Is, is different for each, sometimes they don't make the right choices. But again, I don't know how much of the population is sometimes what you see, what you hear. Being able to afford, I think, as you get older, and, and the way that the current system is, especially in California, the cost of living is pretty high, you know, and, and it makes people stuck in their, in their environment where they can probably be off in a more comfortable environment, or they have a lot more resources that they're able to, but sometimes to get people to change at an older age makes it makes it difficult. You know, and, and with that comes the economic security because then because then those individuals have to choose how to use their funds. But as


as we started having an increase in utilities, and increase in taxes and increase that everything that's coming about it makes it you know, it's getting a little bit harder


are a way for you to use your money and really enjoy.


Enjoy, to take care of yourself and have a healthier life and being able to choose the food that you'd like it's changed. You don't


if your utilities go up by $200 and someone only makes $600.


That's for them, That's a huge change and and what and what they choose to eat is going to change because because that's only factors as well you know, I have to I have to survive, so I have to live in


especially like in this, in this, in this type of cost of living people, people have to make those decisions, and then next thing you know having to change the condition. And I would say that, that, you know, I have seen plenty of individuals that, that have lost that interest in there as well. And then they become homeless, they come to nursing homes for certain time, because, because they see, you know, that's probably their only resource they weren't able to eat, and then they got wounds and


a basic need to heal a wound, is always going to be food. And if they don't, and if they can't feed themselves on there as well, then then they're never going to heal, and then next, you know, they're going to be rotating through to health care, and which is, which is a vicious cycle, you know, in life as opposed to trying to get them back to the home, and they're going to struggle, and then you know, in and then it just makes it difficult. So, so, you know, though, those are, thing are always connected, those that are in the medium.


Those are that in the in the medium range group, then you know, then kind of decisions happen, you know, there, there is a median as a middle aged worker,


having anxiety, behavioral, you know, just everything that's on this list here is tied in in some way. And it has an effect because it bounced just from from back and forth. what they choose to eat, what they do then, you know, you can become obese, you can have


drug and alcohol issues, you can have homelessness, you know, affordability, housing, you know, though, they're all they're all tied into it, and they're they're all creates, creates an environment for someone that is in a healthier population to fall into, and decline and decline and, and be able and coming to an area that we are difficult finding and more difficult to handle because the problems only going to become bigger if we don't take care of it already.


And what barriers exist to seeing improvements in this area of economic security.


You know, the, the barriers, the the only thing that I would say is of course, the individuals that are responsible for making the decisions on the funds have most of the control. It makes it very difficult because


because we're only one small segment of it as well, and in a whole vast amount of things that are currently currently happening in the world. But


we put it into spotlight a lot more once once we noticed that there's a growing trend.


And if people don't see that or don't put on the news or don't hear about it, then it just often goes kind of


under that right. So that is our what I would say the biggest barrier is those that are making those actual decisions to have to have funding or to provide these types of programs or emphasis or push you know, to to advocate to to make them a lot stronger


and a lot more prominent because I mean we're all headed that age. We will all be there at one point in life.


for the for the different backgrounds, it's just you know, I wouldn't say it just depends on how the person grew up. I can tell you that, you know, as the person myself, and I always give myself as an example, because, you know, I, I've seen, I've worked in a lot of professions in, in different environments at such a young age as well to, to kind of where I'm at. And, and being able to roll into it as a background makes it very difficult because, you know, it's ultimately the the actual decision of the individual, and what the current status is like. So I'm glad I said, I'm a person that likes to be informed. So I read, I would like to see data or see, you know, just kind of pick up things, I think we're in a very good stage with technology and how things are progressing within the last 10 years that I would say that will make it a lot easier coming up with those ideas, I think is, is


is, is going to be a good challenge, but a good challenge to have. But But backgrounds, I think have have a huge effect as to how they choose how their economic security is right. And if they do go down, I mean, I will say that me myself, I, you know, after the experiences that I've lived had experienced with that, and just seeing how much people that are taken care of, especially in these populations


how i'm able to to live, you know, and I think I have my median as to where I see my and and how comfortable I've been. And my mindset is already set in those kinds of parameters. So I can be comfortable


as I get older, but again, that's only me, I'm only one person at just over 40 years old. And I'm you know, and I'm trying to think ahead, and if I'm able to get a lot, a lot more people to kind of think of think ahead, kind of in these type of categories, and just get it out, especially to the different populations in, in those in the in the different brackets, you know,


it could be key. And what do you suggest is the best way to address this issue


I think continue to provide experiences and have and have people positioned to see it for themselves


I think I think there might, I think the mindset needs to be a lot more open to kind of accepting what makes it difficult I from my point of view is that if you haven't experienced it, or you haven't lived it, then it makes it very hard. I think having those experiences and being able to see it for yourself hand on will allow you to kind of feel of what it gives you a snapshot of what what, what these individuals are going through. They, you know, being there, day by day, seeing the different experiences and see how, how sometimes people are, are left


A lot of us, you know, we have plans and it's easy and probably there's you know, there's a lot more physicians and everything is fine, you know, that their their parents or their loved ones or their older ones are are doing great. And and they have a very good time. But there's a lot more that don't have that plan that don't, that don't have that. So experiencing experiencing it info for themselves. I think it's important. I think it has to open up a lot more. There has to be


to have it addressed as, as we are seeing the age of the Social Security also been added. Right.


reaching, reaching your actual benefits at that point of what it was before 10 15 years ago as to what the average age right now I think at 67. By the time I would say that I that I get to the age, you know, it'll probably be over 70


which is good. You know, I think I think I think also keeping people working, especially in the in the in the elder population, I think is very important. There's a lot of years of knowledge, keeping them actively engaged


benefited from it, you know, we, you know, those are the things that I that I feel that we can still learn from it as well as opposed to kind of judging, and then looking for, for, for other avenues to see how our business kind of grows. So you know, those are those are my two topics is that, you know, just keep them, keep them employed, keep them busy continue with those actual benefits and also being being aware of what those benefits are.


I think this also touches base to the other areas that I have, I would say the one thing that we're going to have to cope with is is is apparent


it's COVID, right, you know, the most recent, you know, start with the most recent COVID


how much work it drives, going through a pandemic and not having one for the last 100 years, there's no playbook. And there's a lot of uncertainty, a lot of repercussions that probably happened, a lot of feelings, a lot of senses, and then also what our younger, what our younger population has gone through, you know, to kind of not have that connection during those last couple of years especially like in the in the learning environment as you're growing, right so so you know, so those are the things that we have to prepare ourselves for how the younger population is going to come into effect and how that's going to have an effect on behavioral health as they age through


through their facets in their in their age group


medication drugs, stress the amount of responsibility that an individual has for a loved one, you know, just changing the conditions food making the wrong decisions, you know, just there's a lot of facets that that affect the behavioral mental health of one person and you're starting to have an effect at the younger population


which means that at the start of young age and then by the time they reach 60, they're already going to be they're going to be handed off


I would say our mind is our own our own worst enemy and we you know and everyone says you know I think you have this you know issue then this person doesn't recognize he's not able to recognize that or kind of do that reach out and makes it very harder hard at a younger age to to get that help you know needed in order to in terms to become better in their in their mental health and behavior so


resources and that can entail finding people to be to want to work with the with the aging


And I think that's something that I have seen that it makes it very hard for people to stay a in these types of fields, especially for the for for those because because of the amount of challenges you know, we there, there isn't enough resources, there isn't enough funding you have to do more with less and, you know, at the end of the day if it's, it's not it's not the people that work with them. It's ultimately it affects the person that we're that we're ever servicing


they have to meet certain requirements, but the resources are not there, monetary wise, it just, it makes it very difficult, you know, and, and it makes you prone to overwork. And also make them think about what the profession is and not having to deal with these type of, with you having issues with which we should have a lot of, we should have more,


the middle ground and recognizing it, and having having recognizing time, I think is is a hard part because then you start going into other parameters that can include Alzheimer's, or kind of dementia.


But, but also allowing them to get the help that they need. So as an administrator mental health, and behavior has become so prevailing right now, and it's out, you know, combine whether it's with homelessness, it's, you know, tied into how to how we eat, but being able to find a resource to provide the health, you have to have certain parameters in order for them to be able to get the help, if they don't meet that, you know, the -------


it doesn't happen well, and then you kind of move on. So so we're kind of stuck trying to figure out how to help this individual. And sometimes you don't have that, you have to have information, you have to have a better a better information system in order for them to know that that is connected, that kind of has an understanding in order for us to be able to help them together. Because it can be one there has to be,


has to be multiple, so you to still see that's a bit kind of disconnected


so you know, so it makes it hard to get someone help if they need it, especially if they have a mental health condition or having that identified timely as well.


into the backgrounds, especially with, with mental health is dependent how everyone, I think kind of grew up experiences in life


the route that, that individuals took to to where they got to you know, until someone became kind of


And that has a sense as to how their mental health and well being is, how the current environment is


How is their relationship with their other loved one How is, you know, the, there's a lot of


cultures that we also have to understand and at bringing those cultures, as you know, I, I kind of have those, those actual experiences based on how my parents are based on the cultures of what a hispanic culture was. And each country is different, you know, how they're brought up how a woman is supposed to be how a male is supposed to be what is their type of work that they're supposed to be doing. But, but at the same time, now, being here, I mean, you you merge those backgrounds with others, and you start creating a breed that's different.


figure things out, you know, for each of them, you know, and I mean, i mean we that's what we do, as we get older is that is that we're trying to understand from where they're coming from. The only problem is, it's, it's, you know, they have a lot of years experience, and getting that information in a timely fashion only helps us to kind of help create a good care plan.


Thank you. And what do you suggest is the best way to address this issue


I will say it will be the same response that I gave on my previous


I think the support from from those that are gonna make those actual decisions, because


There has to be a lot more notification, there has to be something more nationwide, a lot more prevelant than


a good way to kind of give this information to our, to our elder population,


having them understand and then giving them a good avenue for them to vent and for them, for them to be able to trust is something pivotal that we need to formulate something more, where they create that bond to be able to talk about it if they want to help themselves.


That that is something that I feel that we can definitely work on getting some help in. And then also, of course, I mean, I mean funding is always going to be the key. I mean, if you don't have funding, or we don't have those programs in place, or or these reinforced ones,


then it makes it hard for us to kind of move ahead on the actual needle and make a positive impact. Thank you.


I know we're coming up on the hour, we do have a few more questions that I want to make sure we're respectful of your time. Thank you. Yeah.


Maybe 10 15 minutes more Okay, sure. That would be great. Thank you.


So accessible. There is there is, from my point of view, there is accessibility in, in Orange County. From what I can see that people are able to do, I feel that everyone is able to go to a senior center and participate in our congregate programs and have a meal there as well. We do provide subsidies with regards to transportation in order for them to go back and forth. Some of the cities have their own transportation. So from from our area, we're able to provide these meals in a very good fashion with an increasing population. That's no problem on the accessibility of course, transportation getting there, that would vary by person and by type of condition. Right and, and having that


also has had an effect monetary wise, and there's any costs, you have access, you have a lot more resources, but again, it just depends depends where you live at which sector of the area, and if there's something available for you to go back and forth.


Adequate is, is something that we need to work on. I would say having a


for some of our clients. I would say that some of our funding


before that, getting to that, getting to those clients, or to that population in a timely fashion beforehand, would have helped before before reaching the stage where they could have had that prevented.


And what do you think will be the biggest challenge older adults will face in the next 10 years


I would say to what they're able to get for the dollar, the quality of their dollar


quality of their dollar, how much they will how much people get 10 years from now


makes it makes it very difficult. Because it's, it's


lose so much information and and and also be you know, having to choose how to spend their money is going to be very difficult and how they obtain it. And if they're able to attain it by by maintaining a job, so


I presume that there's going to be a lot of the elder part of the population are going to have a lot of struggle, which can


increase our homelessness just you know, a lot more depend on family and create a bigger issue with economic well being. And, and also mental health support. So you know, if you're not ready for it, and you're not prepared for it is going to be very hard because once it comes to you, it'll be you have to react a lot quicker in order for you to do something for for yourself in order to survive.


Thank you for sharing. And in your opinion, what do you think the government's role should be in meeting the needs of older adults in Orange County


they have to be equally involved, there has to be some type of committee or something that that's only directed towards them, and then it has to be communicated a lot more consistent, there has to be a good sense


between between the government and the entities that are providing these kinds of supports for that and, and also being you know, what I call boots on the ground, just know they have to be present there, they have to see it for themselves, they have to experience it they have to experience these the these areas and have a have a lot more in depth discussions.


Sometimes the data doesn't reveal  everything in and oftentimes we push ourselves towards data, but sometimes we really have to dig a little bit deeper to kind of see what the root of the problem is.


And thinking about all the older adult residents in Orange County, who is getting the least amount of attention


the middle class of the Orange County population is a the one being in the


Income is one, if you don't say and if they don't meet it, then they don't qualify. So So


That's it, it's almost the same way with us, you know that if they have a certain, you know, certain amount of support that already been provided, then of course, they can overlap with another type of support. But also if they don't, you know, meet the Meet the median kind of requirements, which makes it very hard to also to kind of put them on these types of programs, even though we still have a congregate, but more, you know, on those that actually have need or don't have the accessibility for that transportation, or can't leave their home. If they have a certain amount of income, and they don't, you know, and if they're not in that category, they get denied certain benefits and they have to pay out of pocket they to pay out of pocket and it's just unfortunate that you have to spent down


that they have to be spent down in order for them to qualify for certain benefits and that's the sad part there are so much people you know, what people do to kind of work and make something out of their life


Thank you. And thinking about all the issues facing older adults in Orange County, what issue is being overlooked.


the mental and well being of those of that of that elder population. That's, that's, that's coming of age. Yeah, there's just a gap. There's a gap and they just don't recognize it and causing a lot more costs, cost increases and of course, seeing all this, it just, it just keeps dragging everything towards the right. And it should be just causing things to become a little bit more unattainable for for some of our population.


Thank you so much for your time, and you've been incredibly helpful for research. If you find that you do have more to share, please feel free to reach out to us. Our contact information is on our website, which is www dot advanced oc.com And you can also leave an anonymous voicemail on our telephone line at any time. And I will now stop the recording