The 2015/2016 Orange County Grand Jury published a report questioning, “Is the Office on Aging prepared to handle the demands placed on it by the rapidly expanding Orange County senior population?” Nine years later, the 2024/2025 Orange County Grand Jury is still asking that same question.

Has the County viewed the aging population as a priority in its planning during the last nine years? If so, what progress has been made in its preparedness? If not enough has been done, why not? It will become increasingly more difficult in the coming years to provide support and assistance for the older adult generation’s unique needs unless there is immediate, innovative, and forward-thinking action.

This report illustrates some of the obstacles and challenges that the Office on Aging and the County are facing when trying to address the needs of sixty-five and older residents—who are the fastest growing age group demographic in the County. It also identifies the positive actions that are working to bring the Office on Aging and County closer to this goal.

Given the Board of Supervisors’ (BOS) statements about older adults, quoted above, the Grand Jury respectfully requests that the BOS acknowledge the findings made and implement the recommendations proposed in this report on the Office on Aging.

The Orange County Grand Jury hopes that positive action will follow.

This report will also serve as a resource to older adults and their caregivers on services and programs available through the Office on Aging.