San Diego County shifts aging strategy as senior population grows and housing pressures intensify

A demographic surge is reshaping county planning

San Diego County is recalibrating how it plans and funds services for older residents as the number of adults age 60 and older continues to rise and indicators point to mounting economic and health-related needs. County officials project the 60+ population will surpass 824,000 by 2029, a milestone that is accelerating efforts to align programs, target resources and measure outcomes with greater precision.

New county dashboard consolidates indicators tied to aging

In February 2026, the county launched a public-facing Aging Dashboard intended to centralize dozens of data points tied to aging, including housing, affordability and health outcomes. The tool is designed to help county departments and community partners compare conditions across neighborhoods and identify where needs are most acute, using inputs that include census and health survey data.

The dashboard initiative reflects a broader operational shift: planning for aging is increasingly being treated as a cross-cutting policy issue, linking housing, health care, caregiving and disability supports rather than siloed programs.

Housing and affordability emerge as a primary pressure point

Housing stands out as a central constraint for many older adults, particularly those on fixed incomes. County data summarized in recent county health reporting show that a little over a quarter of older-adult households rent, while most are homeowners—and about half of those homeowners still carry a mortgage. For households headed by adults 65 and older, income constraints are also evident: in 2023, 31.7% had income below the estimated cost of living for a single older adult renter in the county.

• In 2023, an estimated 759,388 county residents were age 60 or older.
• In 2023, 9.8% of adults 60+ and 9.4% of adults 65+ were living below the federal poverty level.
• Cost-of-living estimates for older adult households exceeded $44,000–$45,000 annually, depending on renter versus owner status.

Homelessness and health risks intersect for older adults

County health reporting also indicates that older adults represent a significant share of people experiencing homelessness. In 2023, 26.0% of those experiencing homelessness in San Diego County were age 55 or older, and more than half of older adults experiencing homelessness were unsheltered. The data further show that in 2022, 36.1% of deaths among people experiencing homelessness occurred among those age 60 and older.

Why the county is retooling its approach

The county’s shift is rooted in the scale and complexity of needs tied to aging, including chronic disease, disability, and preventable injuries. County health reporting highlights that falls generate substantial emergency department and hospitalization burdens among older adults, and that chronic conditions such as heart disease remain leading causes of death and hospitalization in older age groups. By consolidating indicators and standardizing how they are tracked, county leaders aim to support program growth, guide grant-seeking and budget decisions, and improve coordination with community-based providers serving seniors and adults with disabilities.

For residents, the policy direction is clear: as the county grows older, planning for housing stability, accessible care and neighborhood-level support will increasingly shape public spending priorities and service design.