By SDCN Staff
Oceanside, CA–The City of Oceanside will host a community listening session for older adults at the El Corazon Senior Center
The San Diego Foundation has provided funding for a partnership between the City of Oceanside and the Center for Excellence in Aging and Longevity at the SDSU Social Policy Institute to develop a five-year action plan. To this end, the City will host three additional listening sessions next month that will provide an opportunity for residents to help prioritize key areas of focus to improve livability in Oceanside.
The first phase of the process included an inventory of City of Oceanside policies and current plans related to the AARP livable domains to understand opportunities and gaps. The City conducted an online and print survey to create a baseline and provide direction. 826 residents completed the 70-question survey. The survey indicated that Oceanside residents want to have increased access to exercise or movement programs tailored to aging populations, social and recreational activities, home maintenance and repair services, and public and private transportation services. Ninety-one percent of respondents stated that their community is at least an adequate place to live as they age, and 71% said it was good or better. Many aspects of Oceanside’s outdoor spaces were positively rated by residents. For example, 77% of participants indicated that the City has well-maintained and safe green spaces, rating them as either excellent (20%) or adequate (52%). Over half of respondents (58%) indicated they were unaware of special transportation options for older adults or individuals with disabilities, such as Oceanside’s “Senior Go” program that provided 1,503 free rides to doctor appointments and grocery stores. The Parks and Recreation Department also provided 600 subsidized taxi vouchers for seniors.
AARP has identified 8 domains of livability that will provide a framework for the City to focus its plan, including Outdoor Spaces and Buildings, Transportation, Housing, Social Participation, Respect and Social Inclusion, Work and Civic Engagement, Communication and Information, and Community and Health Services.
In 2024, the City of Oceanside received a 53 overall livability score in the top half of communities nationally. Results from the survey and the four community listening sessions will help the City refine and focus the plan. The City has an Age-Friendly Action Plan webpage with more information about the domains of livability and a link to the survey results and analysis.
The City of Oceanside assembled a group of community members to serve as an Advisory Group that is helping to guide the development of its action plan. The City has worked with AARP to develop a coalition of Age-Friendly Ambassadors who are engaging with the community to ensure that there is broad participation in the listening and action-planning sessions.
“We want to build on the momentum of engagement that we experienced during the survey process, and ensure that the participants in the listening and action planning sessions reflect the needs and priorities of our diverse community,” said Manuel Gonzalez, Oceanside Director of Parks and Recreation. “I am struck by the sense of hope that we are hearing from older adults who are looking forward to a plan that helps address some of the barriers that they are experiencing to access needs and services.”
Following the listening session on Monday at the Country Club Senior Center, the City will host the following listening sessions:
Thursday, March 13, 5:30 pm at El Corazon Senior Center, 3480 Village Commercial Drive in Oceanside.
Monday, March 24, 5:30 pm at Rancho San Luis Rey Mobile Home Park (200 North El Camino Real)
The listening sessions are available for all Oceanside residents who are interested in discussing the needs of older adults and people living with disabilities.
To RSVP for a listening session, visit the City’s Age-Friendly Action Plan here.
