California Calls Celebrates Grandparents Day with 15,000 Seniors

logoMany Californians are facing the challenge of finding the care they need to stay in their homes as they age.

On September 7th, 15,000 voters over the age of 55 joined California Calls for a Telephone Town Hall to discuss the future of long-term care in California. A panel of experts, which included Sarita Gupta, Co-Director at Caring Across Generations; Gary PassmoreVice President of the Congress of California Seniors; and Aquilina Soriano VersozaExecutive Director at the Pilipino Workers Center answered questions about how the state budget impacts long-term care, what Congress can do to improve care for seniors nationwide, and efforts to improve the rights and working conditions of caregivers.

The Sunday night Telephone Town Hall meeting allowed California Calls to reach seniors most impacted without them having to leave the comfort of their homes. Voters from 56 counties across California participated in the call, listening in and asking questions in both English and Spanish.

California Calls joined the Caring Across Generations campaign this year to help address the growing need for long-term care in California— an issue that is especially challenging for the low-income voters reached in California Calls’ campaigns. While 66% of the voters polled said they were not currently receiving long-term care services, 68% said they are concerned about their ability to stay in their own home as they age.

California Calls’ Telephone Town Hall meeting was just one of many events held by Caring Across Generations’ partners to celebrate Grandparents Day. People of all ages in 15 cities across the nation came together to promote awareness, advocate for seniors and their caregivers, and to celebrate the people who have had an impact on their lives.

Listen to the call recording:

If you would like to know more about how California Calls is working to support the policies and programs seniors need to live with dignity and independence, click here.