The City of Oceanside is seeking feedback from residents to improve community services and infrastructure for older adults and people with disabilities.
The city, along with San Diego State University’s Center for Excellence in Aging and Longevity, are collecting community responses through surveys and meetings to develop a five-year action plan to improve livability.
A 2024 evaluation by the American Association of Retired Persons rated Oceanside in the top half of communities nationwide for livability based on metrics like housing affordability and access, transportation, clean air and water, access to quality heath care and more.
The city’s Parks and Recreation Department and SDSU, are finding ways to improve that score.
Jocelyn Protopappas, CEAL projects manager, said Oceanside seniors would like to see more exercise programs for older adults, social and recreational activities and options for home maintenance and repair services, according to over 800 survey responses.
Transportation and affordable housing for older adults and disabled people, as well as communication about public services, are often other areas for improvement, Protopappas said.
According to AARP, 12% of Oceanside’s population has a disability and 35% are over 50 years old.
Protopappas said she sees the world through a different lens after working with older adults for over a decade.
“Doing this work has really changed my perspective on aging,” she said.
The Parks and Recreation Department held a listening session for older adults and disabled people on Feb. 24, and nearly 40 residents attended.
“The number of people that are engaged either at our commissions or at city council, or expressing an interest outside the context of a formal meeting, is, is really amazing,” said Manuel Gonzalez, department director.
Gonzalez said they are working with the Housing and Neighborhood Services Department and Library Services in a holistic approach to community engagement.
The city will host three more listening sessions in March and four planning sessions in April and May.
The next listening session will be at the Mission Branch Library at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday.
CEAL has worked with a number of cities across the county in addition to Oceanside to implement action plans, including Chula Vista, La Mesa, Solano Beach and Imperial Beach.
