Where others withdraw, we deliver: Local solutions for senior services

In San Mateo County, the need is urgent: By 2030, 1 in 4 residents will be over 65. Thousands rely on Medicare. SNAP notes that 20% of its local participants are over 60. As people live longer on fixed incomes, the need for accessible, affordable services increases.

I serve as CEO of the Peninsula Health Care District, where our mission is to support residents of all ages in achieving optimal health and wellness. Every day, I see firsthand the growing need for accessible, high-quality services for our senior community. Local older adults seek a more coordinated, comprehensive continuum of care that helps them age with dignity and support.

However, supporting older adults cannot fall to any single organization alone. It requires a united effort across every layer of our community to build an environment where older adults feel seen and valued. Support can take many forms, from checking in on an elderly neighbor to reduce isolation, to businesses offering senior-friendly services. Educators can foster intergenerational learning, while civic groups can organize workshops that meet the needs of older adults. Every effort, no matter how small, contributes to a cultural shift where aging is not treated as an individual challenge but as a shared responsibility and opportunity. Building a community where seniors thrive requires collective commitment, compassion and action.

PHCD understands the growing needs of older adults through community health assessments and collaboration with trusted partners who prioritize healthy aging. We are collectively working to protect the health, dignity and independence of older adults alongside San Mateo Age-Friendly Coalition, San Mateo County Commission on Aging, Peninsula Family Service and Ombudsman Services of San Mateo County. Get Healthy San Mateo County advances policies, funding and community-based public services that help seniors thrive as they age in place. From age-friendly housing to accessible health screenings and transportation, we are all working to remove barriers so older adults can live independently, stay connected and maintain their well-being.

In addition to making grants to local organizations that improve health among older adults, PHCD developed the Health & Fitness Center, offering low-cost classes on strength, balance, diabetes management and more, empowering seniors to take charge of their health.

PHCD recently decided to meet the need for senior wellness services in a new way. We are partnering with Catholic Charities of Marin, San Francisco and San Mateo to launch a forward-thinking initiative that helps older adults access support to age at home with confidence. Called “Healthy Aging Pathways,” the free program brings personalized case management services to local families. Community members can schedule consultations with highly trained case managers and social workers who can assess how older individuals can age at home with the support of trusted community resources.

For those who need deeper engagement, case managers may work with a client and their loved ones to navigate applications, access senior services and ensure follow-through. When needs grow more complex, staff are skilled at conducting in-home assessments, creating customized care plans and coordinating multiple services so an older client can safely and independently remain at home.

While federal leaders debate the future of senior care, local leaders are taking decisive action. By investing in programs that promote wellness, foster connection and support aging in place, our region shows that communities can shape their own future where older adults thrive. In uncertain times, one thing remains clear: strong communities don’t wait for solutions; they create them.

Ana M. Pulido, MPA, is the chief executive officer of the Peninsula Health Care District, which was established by voters in 1947 to build a community hospital. Over the decades, PHCD has evolved to provide community-based health services through education, prevention, advocacy and by safeguarding access to essential care for residents of Burlingame, Hillsborough, San Mateo, San Bruno, Millbrae and parts of South San Francisco and Foster City.