The Legislature hereby finds and recognizes all of the following:
(a) Older individuals constitute a fundamental resource of the state that previously has been undervalued and poorly utilized, and ways must be found to enable older individuals to apply their competence, wisdom, and experience for the benefit of all Californians.
(b) There is a continuing increase in the number of older individuals in proportion to the total population.
(c) Today, 14 percent of California’s population currently is 60 years of age and over.
(d) By the year 2010, the first influx of baby boomers will constitute 29.2 percent of California’s total population over 60 years of age. By the year 2020, baby boomers will constitute 70.2 percent of California’s total population over 60 years of age.
(e) By the year 2020, older individuals will represent 21 percent of California’s total population.
(f) While the number of persons over 60 years of age is increasing rapidly, the number of older women, minorities and persons over the age of 75 are increasing at an even greater rate.
(g) Among persons over 75 years of age, there is a higher incidence of functional disabilities.
(h) The social and health problems of the older individual are further compounded by inaccessibility to existing services and by the unavailability of a complete range of services.
(i) Services to older individuals are administered by many different agencies and departments at both the state and local level.
(j) The planning and delivery of these services is not carried out with any degree of coordination among those agencies.
(k) Enhanced coordination reduces duplication, eliminates inefficiencies, and enhances service delivery for the consumer.
(l) The ability of the constantly increasing number of aged in the state to maintain self-sufficiency and personal well-being with the dignity to which their years of labor entitle them and to realize their maximum potential as creative and productive individuals are matters of profound importance and concern for all of the people of this state.
(Repealed and added by Stats. 1996, Ch. 1097, Sec. 13. Effective January 1, 1997.)