California Democrats are committed to ending systemic ageism in our society, and to recognize the importance of older adults and the diversity of perspective they bring to our society. As the fastest growing age group in the nation, people over the age of 65 are a strong driving force in our collective future and are deserving of respect and dignity. We recognize that people age in different ways with different needs.
California Democrats will:
- Affirm and support the California Master Plan for Aging’s goals, which will allow for lifelong opportunities for work, volunteering, engagement, education and leadership in order to be protected from isolation, discrimination, abuse, neglect, and exploitation;
- Support, strengthen, and preserve Medicare, Social Security, and all other government provided health, caregiving, housing (including public housing), employment, and transportation/transit programs to ensure that seniors have access, regardless of income or social status so that these programs are considered guaranteed rights;
- Oppose mandatory retirement and support retraining for those 55 to 65 in order to remain in the workforce, if they wish;
- Demand greater focus on investigating and prosecuting all crimes against seniors, including abuse, financial, and discrimination, and that all existing penalties for crimes against seniors be strictly enforced;
- Support universal, comprehensive, single-payer health care, and, until that is achieved, reform Medicare Part D to make it affordable and easily accessible to people of all income levels, specifically addressing eligibility problems and the private drug plan choices, as well as advocating for Medicare to negotiate drug prices with pharmaceutical companies; and,
- Support programs that encourage trained professionals to specialize in senior care by creating rewarding and high-quality caregiving jobs.
