SAN DIEGO, CA – May 14, 2021 – Today, Shelley Lyford, President and CEO of the Gary and Mary West Foundation, issued the following statement after California Governor Gavin Newsom released the May Revision of the 2021-22 budget. The revision includes over $1 billion of new investments to support the implementation of key components of the state’s first-ever Master Plan for Aging.
“Earlier this year, the release of California’s Master Plan for Aging was a welcome development after a deadly pandemic exposed decades of lagging investments in older adults. The plan’s release signaled the dawning of a new era for California’s seniors, their families, and their caregivers – one where successful aging is front and center in our policymaking.
But, despite its visionary promise, it remained unknown if critical funding would be available to realize the plan’s bold potential. But today those questions are answered.
Governor Newsom has put forth a budget that would provide more than $1 billion to improve senior health and nutrition, expand caregiver support, bridge the digital divide, provide more affordable and accessible housing and transportation, and combat elder abuse. This budgetary commitment makes the plan tangible and concrete.
It is often said that your budget is a direct reflection of your values. Without significant funding, the Master Plan would simply be words on paper, but with this commitment, the plan can now become reality. We applaud Governor Newsom and his cabinet for their leadership and values, and I am confident that once enacted this budget will lead to a more age- and disability-friendly California.”
About West Health
Solely funded by philanthropists Gary and Mary West, West Health is a family of nonprofit and nonpartisan organizations including the Gary and Mary West Foundation and Gary and Mary West Health Institute in San Diego, and the Gary and Mary West Health Policy Center in Washington, D.C. West Health is dedicated to lowering healthcare costs to enable seniors to successfully age in place with access to high-quality, affordable health and support services that preserve and protect their dignity, quality of life and independence. Learn more at westhealth.org and healthcostcrisis.org, and follow @westhealth.
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