President & CEO Debbie Toth of Choice in Aging (CiA) was appointed to the prestigious inaugural Master Plan for Aging Stakeholder Advisory Committee by Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly of California Health and Human Services. The committee is comprised of 30 leaders in California from Health Care, Foundations, Academia, and more. They will be tasked with coming together and informing the development of a master plan to make California an age friendly state. The diverse Committee will formulate best practices to guide the work of state government, local communities, private organizations, and philanthropy to build environments that promote healthy aging. “The thought of having a seat at the table with the leaders in our industry that will drive the policy of how we age has been a dream of mine, since I started working in senior care in high school,” enthused Toth, “I am very humbled and grateful to Secretary Ghaly and Governor Gavin Newsom for affording me this amazing opportunity.”
For over 70 years CiA has been serving the frailest members of the community, and fighting for their rights. The historic demographic challenges and changes that California is facing have not been adequately addressed. California has the largest and most diverse aging population in the country, and it is estimated that by 2030 one in five Californians will be 65 or older. This committee serves to prepare the state with a plan. “This is our time to come together to build an age-friendly California”, said Dr. Ghaly. “Government cannot do this alone — I challenge all Californians to join us in building a California Dream that is inclusive of our older and disabled neighbors.”