Partnering to Prosper: California’s Aging Leaders Unite for Innovation and Collaboration

The Aging & Disabilities Department (AD) joined more than 450 industry leaders at the California Association of Area Agencies on Aging (C4A) Conference, held November 5–7 in Garden Grove, where participants shared stories of collaboration and innovation with a common goal: improving services for older adults and people with disabilities.

With the theme “Partnering to Prosper: Joining Allies to Protect the Future,” the conference focused on strengthening partnerships and exploring creative approaches to service delivery during a time of fiscal uncertainty.

“Partnering for prosperity reminds us that none of us can do this alone,” said Aneliza Del Pinal, Chief Executive Officer of Sourcewise, the Area Agency on Aging (AAA) serving Santa Clara County and current C4A President. “Prosperity in our industry is not about profit; it’s about the well-being of the older adult living in their home for as long as possible. It’s about the caregiver, and how best to partner with them to help them navigate their journey.”

In keeping with the Partnering to Prosper theme, the conference showcased how collaboration drives innovation in programs serving older adults, including:

• Intergenerational Allies: Building a Multigenerational Culture through Local Innovation: An intergenerational summer camp that brought older adults and schoolchildren together for cooking and crafts classes.

• From Pilot to Powerhouse: The Strategy & Success Behind Evolving Models of Digital Inclusion: A technology hub offering iPads and multilingual training to bridge the digital divide for older adults.

• Together for Veterans: A collaborative initiative for veterans, helping them apply for benefits and combat isolation, fraud, and suicide risk.

• How to Leverage Technology to Build Meaningful Connections with Caregivers: A bilingual caregiver training program providing essential tools and resources to prevent burnout and loneliness.

• The Aging & Disabilities Department’s own award-winning Adult Protective Services (APS) Center of Excellence (COE), which unites experts from healthcare, law enforcement, prosecution, and social services to tackle complex elder abuse cases.

Conference sessions also addressed emerging challenges, including potential federal budget cuts that could remove 10 million people from Medicaid and 4 million from SNAP benefits.

Yasmin Peled, Director of California Government Affairs for Justice in Aging, urged attendees to advocate for their clients and communities.

“We’re all doing this because we care about our communities and want to ensure that older adults can age with dignity,” Peled said. “Our current predicament does not have to define our future. The older adults we serve deserve our continued commitment to making things better.”

One of the two keynote speakers, Sandy Markwood, Chief Executive Officer of USAging, also spoke about change, saying that the best word to describe 2025 is “uncertainty.” She emphasized that partnerships and collaboration will be essential to securing federal funding and noted that a key part of that work is telling the stories of how budget cuts affect real people.

“You need to tell your stories about your clients,” Markwood said. “Every time there is a cut in programs, USAging and others get calls from the media saying, ‘Tell me about the harm. Tell me about the impact.’ You have the stories. You have the data they need.”

A highlight of the event was the presentation of the Lifetime Achievement Award to Dr. Laura Trejo, the Aging & Disabilities Department’s inaugural director. The award honored her decades of leadership in caregiver support, social isolation, dementia care, and the integration of aging and disability services.

“And beyond your professional role, you’ve mentored many, nurturing the next generation of leaders in our field,” said Aneliza Del Pinal as she presented Dr. Trejo with the award.

Accepting the honor, Dr. Trejo reflected, “I retired from my public service career, not from my profession or my passion to ensure the well-being of older people and people living with disabilities.” She concluded her remarks by leading the audience in the famous Gray Panther “roar,” a tribute to the spirit of advocacy championed by Maggie Kuhn.

Maral Karaccusian, the Aging & Disabilities Department’s interim director, attended the conference alongside several L.A. County staff members. Under her leadership, the department continues to build and expand partnerships and explore innovative solutions to meet the growing needs of older adults and individuals with disabilities. “It was really exciting to see our commissioners and our staff so dedicated; learning about the different opportunities and attending the various breakout sessions,” Karaccusian said. “It was really wonderful to witness so many of our staff excited to be there to absorb and learn.” Prior to the start of the conference, Karaccusian and Victoria Jump, the assistant director who leads the department’s AAA branch for L.A. County, met with C4A Executive Director Christina Mills and other Area Agency on Aging directors. “Christina started her leadership role in January, so she’s new to C4A. It was great to get to know her, and it was an opportunity for us to network and connect with other jurisdictions to learn about some of the common themes and concerns,” Karaccusian added. In her keynote speech, Susan DeMarois, Director of the California Department of Aging (CDA), spoke about the changes ahead and the challenges they bring. Among the changes DeMarois cited were the shift in federal leadership, significant state budget cuts, the rapidly growing population of older adults, and the escalating impacts of climate change. “CDA is looking to modernization as a key strategy for shaping the future and meeting the challenges brought on by these shifts,” DeMarois said. One major modernization project is the creation of a website that will serve as a single statewide entry point for information on aging and disability services. “Modernization isn’t about systems—it’s about people. It’s about ensuring that when someone calls, clicks, or walks through the door, they find a network that works together,” DeMarois said. As the C4A conference made clear, collaboration remains essential to protecting the future of aging and disability services across California.