Marin Voice: Our decisions must improve the community’s ‘healthspan’

Marin holds the distinction of having an average life expectancy that is among the longest in both California and the United States. According to Marin Health and Human Services, Marin men have the highest life expectancy in the country at 81.6 years, while Marin women have the second highest at 85.1 years.

Perhaps even more important than lifespan is another term quickly gaining popularity among many medical professionals – healthspan. Stated simply: the length of time in one’s life during which an individual is in reasonably good health.

Marin County Public Health Officer Dr. Matt Willis made the compelling case that healthspan is a much better longevity metric than lifespan during a recent program titled, “What it’s like to Age in Marin – a cross-cultural conversation.” As Willis described, “lifespan” is the total number of years we are simply alive while “healthspan” measures our quality of life and how many of those years we remain healthy and disease-free.

Thirty-three percent of Marin’s population is 60 or over and, starting in 2027, we will have more people aged 60 and older than those under 30. Are Marin leaders prepared with a plan to improve the healthspan of our aging population?

In 2021, California released a “Master Plan of Aging,” which is a comprehensive framework designed to prepare the state for the significant changes expected with the increase of older adults.

The MPA identified five goals for the next 10 years. It serves as a blueprint for the state in supporting residents as they age: housing for all ages and stages; health reimagined; equity and inclusion, not isolation; caregiving that works; and affordable aging.

County leaders should spearhead the development of a countywide MPA using the state’s model as a framework. With a single blueprint to help guide our efforts, we will reduce current confusing redundancies in services across agencies; create more cost-effective, streamlined solutions; and, most importantly, provide the best and most comprehensive programs and services for our aging population.

Here are some important questions to keep in mind while developing the plan:

• Does our recently adopted 2023-2031 Marin County housing element and the housing elements for all of our local jurisdictions sufficiently address housing, particularly affordable housing, for older adults? Do we have adequate policies and programs in place for stabilizing housing to prevent displacement and potential homelessness (especially for older adults on fixed incomes)?

• How do factors such as race; gender; socio-economic status; access to quality health care and education; disability status; food security; geographic location; and environmental factors (like exposure to air pollution) affect healthspan?

• According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly a quarter of older adults feel “socially isolated.” What can we do as a community to prevent and address this?

•  We have nearly 2,000 in-house supportive services workers in Marin. Is this important caregiver group adequately resourced for advancing the healthspan of our aging population?

•  Does Marin’s new countywide transportation plan sufficiently address the needs of older adults with safe and accessible transportation, cycling and pedestrian-friendly options?

• Creating and maintaining open space, trails and parks are essential to our community. Are we ensuring that these public areas are designed with inclusive options for people with disabilities and older adults to enable a healthy lifestyle?

Any plan we create should keep these considerations (among others) in mind and serve as a call for action with measurable outcomes, accountability, transparency and ongoing public engagement.

The urgency is written simply here in the conclusion of the May, 2023 Marin County Civil Grand Jury report: “The time for studies and consultants is over.  Robust action to the problem of Marin’s aging population is long overdue.”

The only important caveat I would make is that I do not see our aging population as a “problem” to be solved. Rather, I am excited and hopeful by the opportunity to create a comprehensive “Countywide Master Plan of Aging” to improve the healthspan and quality of life for our entire community through all of our stages and ages.

Heather McPhail Sridharan is a candidate for District 2 seat on the Marin County Board of Supervisors on the November ballot. Learn more at heatherformarin.com.