San Diego Seniors Community Foundation (SDSCF) held its first “State of Seniors” address, after the release of the 2025 State of Seniors report this week.The report outlines the current conditions facing the senior population in San Diego, including challenges regarding economic insecurity, housing instability, food access, healthcare affordability and long-term care.
Key Findings According to the Report:
Urgency: More than 730,000 San Diego County residents are age 60 or older today, projected to exceed one million by 2040, yet two in five seniors lack the $30,000 annually needed to cover basic needs. Coordinated action across government, philanthropy, and the aging services network is urgently needed before the window to build adequate infrastructure closes.
Economic Insecurity: 56% of San Diego seniors are housing cost-burdened, more than 2,400 became homeless for the first time in 2025, and 184,000 face food insecurity. Targeted investment in affordable housing, rental assistance, and expanded food access programs is essential to stabilizing the growing number of older adults in crisis.
Elder Fraud: San Diego seniors lost nearly $140 million to financial fraud in 2025 which is low since most victims are too embarrassed to report their incident. Expanded community education, stronger coordination with law enforcement and financial institutions, and public awareness campaigns are critical to turning the tide.
Ageism: Ageism costs older adults jobs, healthcare, and dignity. 48% of older adults report lower earning potential due to age discrimination and only 5% of healthcare providers trained in geriatric care. Combating ageism requires inclusive workplace policies, increased geriatric training, and a cultural shift that recognizes older adults as vital contributors.
Healthcare: With nursing home costs reaching $205,422 annually and a projected shortage of 3.2 million direct care workers in California by 2030, the current healthcare model is unsustainable. A shift toward preventive, community-based care, including telehealth and mobile health services, is essential to keeping seniors healthier and out of costly institutional care.
Longevity: About a third of San Diego seniors are socially isolated. This is a condition that raises dementia risk by 50% and early mortality by up to 26%. San Diego must move beyond simply extending life and invest in programs that help older adults thrive with purpose, connection, and opportunity.
To take a look at the full report, click here.
SDSCF introduced the Longevity Fund, a campaign aimed to combat these challenges by creating Longevity Clubs: senior wellness centers with programs and services designed for residents 60 and older. The idea is to provide special resources to existing senior centers, while establishing a proposed Longevity Club in East County.
Unlike last year’s report, demographics based on race, age, gender and marital status are absent from these findings.
