As Santa Cruz County ages, new study highlights disparities in health care, housing, transportation – Santa Cruz Sentinel

Analysis of Santa Cruz County’s Community Needs Assessment for Older Adults Through the Lens of Sustainable Development Goals

Executive Summary

A recent Community Needs Assessment Survey in Santa Cruz County, involving over 3,200 adults aged 40 and older, provides a critical framework for evaluating progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The findings reveal a mixed landscape where successes in community well-being are contrasted by significant challenges that undermine core SDG principles, particularly regarding health (SDG 3), poverty (SDG 1), hunger (SDG 2), inequality (SDG 10), and sustainable communities (SDG 11). The report serves as a blueprint for targeted, equity-focused interventions to ensure no one is left behind as the population ages.

Demographic Context and Strategic Imperative

The county’s demographic profile highlights the urgency of aligning local policy with the SDGs. The population of adults aged 60 and over currently stands at 24% (approximately 64,320 residents), a figure already exceeding the state average of 21%. Projections indicate this will increase to 32% by 2034, amplifying the need for sustainable infrastructure and social support systems.

Key Findings in Relation to Sustainable Development Goals

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

The assessment indicates partial achievement of SDG 3, with notable areas requiring immediate attention.

• Positive Indicators: The majority of older adults report enjoying good health overall, a foundational element of community well-being.
• Systemic Barriers: Access to healthcare is a significant challenge. Approximately one in four respondents must travel outside the county for basic services due to difficulties finding specialists or doctors who accept Medicare.
• Caregiving Strain: The well-being of caregivers is under pressure, with 73% of respondents providing regular care for individuals with physical disabilities, memory issues, or serious illnesses. This informal care system, while vital, points to a gap in formal support services.

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

Progress toward creating inclusive, safe, and resilient communities is uneven, with housing and safety emerging as primary concerns.

• Housing Insecurity: A critical threat to sustainable community development is the housing crisis. 40% of respondents expressed uncertainty about their ability to remain stably housed. While 79% of those over 60 own homes, renters face the nation’s most expensive market, creating a severe barrier to safe and affordable housing.
• Emergency Preparedness: Community resilience is undermined by a lack of preparedness, with nearly half of respondents feeling ill-equipped for an emergency. This vulnerability is especially acute for marginalized populations.
• Community Strengths: On a positive note, strong connections with neighbors were reported, suggesting a solid foundation of social capital that can be leveraged to enhance community resilience.

SDG 1, SDG 2, and SDG 10: No Poverty, Zero Hunger, and Reduced Inequalities

The report starkly illustrates the interconnectedness of poverty, hunger, and inequality, revealing that specific demographic groups are disproportionately affected.

1. Food Insecurity (SDG 2): 24% of respondents reported relying on free groceries within the past year, a clear indicator of food insecurity that directly contravenes the goal of Zero Hunger.
2. Vulnerability and Inequality (SDG 10): The assessment identifies specific populations that are consistently marginalized, underscoring the overarching need to reduce inequalities. These groups include:
   • Those who live alone
   • The unstably housed
   • Individuals with a disability
   • Residents with low incomes
   • Spanish-speaking residents
   • Residents of Watsonville
3. Economic Vulnerability (SDG 1): The challenges faced by low-income residents, from housing to food security, highlight the persistence of poverty. Furthermore, vulnerable populations face a heightened risk of financial scams and abuse, exacerbating economic instability.

Conclusion and Strategic Outlook

The Community Needs Assessment is a foundational component of the county’s Master Plan for Aging and its status as an AARP “age-friendly community.” The report’s summary emphasizes that achieving the Sustainable Development Goals for an aging population requires “solutions that are geographically targeted, equity-minded, culturally affirming, community-focused, and human-designed.” By focusing on the most vulnerable, Santa Cruz County can build a more resilient and equitable community for all residents, fully aligning its local initiatives with the global 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 2: Zero Hunger

  The article addresses this goal by highlighting food insecurity among the aging population in Santa Cruz County. It specifically mentions that a significant portion of older adults has had to rely on food assistance.

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

  This goal is central to the article, which discusses the overall health of older adults. It points out challenges in accessing health care, such as finding specialists or doctors who accept Medicare, and the need for caregiving for those with physical disabilities or serious illnesses.

• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

  The article emphasizes disparities among different segments of the older population. It notes that concerns about housing, health, and other risks are highest among younger, lower-income, disabled, and Spanish-speaking residents, underscoring the need to address inequalities within the community.

• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

  This goal is connected through the discussion of housing and transportation. The article highlights the severe housing challenges, with Santa Cruz County being the most expensive rental market in the nation and 40% of respondents feeling uncertain about their housing stability as they age.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• Target 2.1: End hunger and ensure access to food

  By 2030, end hunger and ensure access by all people, in particular the poor and people in vulnerable situations, including infants, to safe, nutritious and sufficient food all year round. The article connects to this target by revealing that 24% of respondents had to rely on free groceries, indicating a significant portion of the aging population lacks consistent access to sufficient food.

• Target 3.8: Achieve universal health coverage

  Achieve universal health coverage, including financial risk protection, access to quality essential health-care services and access to safe, effective, quality and affordable essential medicines and vaccines for all. The article relates to this target by describing how older adults struggle to find doctors that accept Medicare and that one in four have to travel outside the county for basic health care services, indicating a lack of accessible and affordable local health care.

• Target 10.2: Promote universal social, economic and political inclusion

  By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status. The article’s finding that residents who are low-income, disabled, unstably housed, or Spanish-speaking face greater challenges directly relates to this target of promoting inclusion and addressing the needs of marginalized groups.

• Target 11.1: Ensure access to adequate, safe and affordable housing

  By 2030, ensure access for all to adequate, safe and affordable housing and basic services and upgrade slums. This target is directly addressed by the article’s data showing that 40% of respondents were uncertain about remaining stably housed and that the county is the most expensive rental market in the nation, highlighting a crisis in affordable and adequate housing for the aging population.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Indicator for Target 2.1

  The article provides a direct indicator for measuring food insecurity: the percentage of the population relying on food assistance. The specific data point mentioned is that “24% of respondents noted that they had to rely on free groceries in the past year.”

• Indicator for Target 3.8

  An indicator for measuring access to health care is the proportion of the population facing barriers to accessing local health services. The article states that “about one in four respondents to travel outside of the county to access basic health care services,” which serves as a clear metric.

• Indicator for Target 10.2

  The article implies an indicator for measuring inequality by highlighting disparities in vulnerability. Progress could be measured by tracking the “disparity in housing uncertainty and resource access between the general older population and specific vulnerable groups” (e.g., low-income, disabled, Spanish-speaking residents). The report’s summary notes these groups “feature prominently among those who are most under-resourced.”

• Indicator for Target 11.1

  The article offers two clear indicators for housing access. The first is the “percentage of the population uncertain about remaining stably housed,” which was reported as 40% of respondents. The second is the “ranking of rental market affordability,” with the article citing the county’s status as the “most expensive rental market in the nation.”

4. SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Table

Source: santacruzsentinel.com