If there’s one thing that has shaped me more than anything else during my time walking neighborhoods, knocking on doors, and listening to people across South County, it’s the stories I hear from our seniors.
I can’t count how many times I’ve stood on a front porch and had a senior open the door slowly, smile, and say something like:
“I’m not as fast as I used to be.”
“My kids live far away now.”
“I’m worried about getting to my doctor next month.”
“I want to stay in my home… but everything keeps getting harder.”
Those conversations stay with you. They follow you back to the office. They guide every policy decision you make.
And for me, this work is personal.
My wife and I have lost all of our grandparents. We walked with them through the hard years — dementia, declining health, mobility challenges, the complicated maze of caregiving, and the slow, difficult loss of independence that so many families quietly endure. We saw the pressure it puts on spouses, siblings, and adult children. We saw the exhaustion. The fear. The moments of grace. And the deep grief.
That experience grounded me in what so many families are living right now. It’s why senior advocacy has never been a talking point for me — it’s been a mission.
And just a few months ago, that mission took on an even deeper meaning.
I went on a ride-along with the SLO County Long-Term Care Ombudsman, visiting care homes and speaking directly with isolated seniors who often have no one checking on them except the Ombudsman volunteers. I saw rooms where residents rarely get visitors. I saw the quiet loneliness that doesn’t show up in reports or budgets. I spoke with seniors who desperately want connection, dignity, and someone to notice when something isn’t right.
You can’t witness that and walk away unchanged.
You walk away with even more determination to make sure our seniors — the people who built our churches, our schools, our local businesses, and our community values — are not forgotten.
That is why the work we’re doing in SLO County for seniors and healthcare access matters so profoundly.
And this is the story of what we’ve achieved — and what’s still ahead.
This year, we reached an historic milestone: SLO County’s first Master Plan for Aging.
For decades, our county needed a comprehensive roadmap to serve the rapidly growing senior population — and now we finally have one.
This plan didn’t happen on its own. It emerged from months of listening:
The Master Plan for Aging focuses on four core pillars essential for independence and wellbeing:
• Housing: Safe, affordable options that allow seniors to age in place
• Healthcare: Improved access, shorter wait times, better coordination
• Emotional Wellbeing: Combating isolation and supporting mental health
• Caregiving: Strengthening support for family and professional caregivers
I’m especially grateful to our Department of Social Services, the MPA Advisory Committee, and senior leaders like Linda Beck, and the late Tauria Linala and Anne McCracken — whose voices have shaped this plan from the beginning.
This work reflects something fundamental: Our seniors deserve thoughtful, practical, long-term solutions — not empty promises.
One of the most common concerns I hear from seniors while walking precincts is:
“I can’t drive anymore… and I don’t know how I’m going to get to my appointments.”
Last year, that concern became a crisis when Wilshire Hospice abruptly closed and ended its transportation services — services that hundreds of seniors relied on.
Recognizing the urgency, my office stepped in to help Community Partners in Caring secure a new contract with SLOCOG and Caltrans, enabling them to expand their volunteer-based transportation and support services into Nipomo and the Five Cities — for the first time ever.
Transportation isn’t just mobility — it’s access to healthcare, nutrition, connection, and dignity.
This entire program runs on volunteer drivers. And the need in South County is enormous.
Even a couple of hours a month can be life-changing for a senior with no family nearby.
To learn more or volunteer, visit partnersincaring.org
Rural counties like ours face unique challenges: lower reimbursement rates, physician shortages, and long waitlists — especially for seniors.
That’s why I’ve fought for:
These improvements directly reduce wait times and help seniors stay connected to the care they need.
Many seniors tell me they fear being priced out of the community they helped build.
To help address those concerns, I’ve supported:
Affordability and stability are necessities.
Last year, we recognized October 8th as SLO County’s Day of Action for the Master Plan for Aging — a countywide commitment to senior wellbeing.
It was a powerful moment of unity between community groups, healthcare partners, caregivers, and seniors themselves. This effort is — and always will be — community-driven.
Our seniors deserve a county that listens to them, respects them, and protects their wellbeing.
Over the next year, I’ll continue working to:
Honoring our seniors is honoring the very people who made SLO County what it is today.
— Jimmy Paulding
