REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
October 20, 2026
FROM
SHARON NEVINS, Director, Department of Aging and Adult Services
SUBJECT
Title
San Bernardino County Area Agency on Aging Area Plan Update for 2026-27
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
Approve and authorize the submission of the San Bernardino County Area Agency on Aging Area Plan Update for 2026-27 to the California Department of Aging.
(Presenter: Sharon Nevins, Director, 891-3917)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Foster Sustainable Development Through Strategic Partnerships.
Provide for the Safety, Health and Social Service Needs of County Residents.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Approval of this item will not result in the use of Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost), as the San Bernardino County Area Agency on Aging Area Plan Update (APU) is non-financial in nature.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Submission of the APU is a requirement by the California Department of Aging (CDA) under the California Code of Regulations, Division 1.8, Title 22, section 7300 et seq. Compliance with Area Plan (AP) requirements supports the Department of Aging and Adult Services (DAAS) in administering funding for services to older adults, adults with disabilities, family caregivers, and residents of long-term care facilities throughout San Bernardino County (County). As the local Area Agency on Aging (AAA), DAAS is required to develop a four-year AP and submit annual updates, known as APUs, addressing goals and objectives, demographic information, and planned service levels. A Board of Supervisors (Board) approved AP and APUs are due to CDA by May 1 of each year. This year, an APU is required, and is the second annual update to the 2024-28 AP.
In 1976, the State of California designated the County as the local AAA. This designation allowed the County to receive Federal Older Americans Act (OAA) and State Aging funds to provide a comprehensive and coordinated system of supportive and nutrition services based on need. On behalf of the County, DAAS acts as the AAA and works in partnership with the County’s Senior Affairs Commission (SAC) to assess and develop services provided through Federal OAA and State Aging funds. The SAC was established by the Board in 1973 and serves as an advisory body on policy matters related to the service needs of senior citizens.
As the local AAA, DAAS administers OAA funding and related state funding authorized through California’s aging services framework, including the Older Californians Act (OCA). These resources support a coordinated network of services for older adults, individuals with disabilities, family caregivers, and residents of long-term care facilities throughout the County. The AP primarily establishes how the County will plan for and administer OAA Programs under Titles III, V, and VII, while also supporting coordination with related state-funded aging programs.
Services include:
• Supportive and Access Services: Information and assistance, legal services, transportation, In-Home Supportive Services, outreach, senior center activities, and other services that help older adults remain independent in the community.
• Nutrition and Health Promotion: Congregate and home-delivered meals, nutrition education, and evidence-based disease prevention and health promotion activities.
• Family Caregiver Support: Information, counseling, training, respite, support groups, and supplemental services for family caregivers and older relative caregivers.
• Senior Community Service Employment: Title V employment and training opportunities for eligible low-income older adults.
• Long-Term Care Ombudsman and Elder Abuse Prevention: Advocacy for residents of long-term care facilities and activities that support the prevention, detection, and response to elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation.
On April 23, 2024 (Item No. 7), the Board approved the 2024-28 AP. The AP was developed by DAAS through a series of public meetings and hearings to receive input regarding community needs from older adults, individuals with disabilities, their families, and caregivers. Major goals and objectives of the AP include focused outreach to disseminate information and educate older adults, individuals living with disabilities, and caregivers on available resources, and to authenticate quality services within the County.
On May 20, 2025 (Item No. 6), the Board approved the 2025-26 APU, which contained minor revisions to the AP as required by the OCA.
On March 23, 2026, CDA issued revised guidance for the 2026-27 APU. In response, DAAS completed substantial revisions to align the AP with this year’s updated CDA requirements and remediated over 100 pages to improve the accessibility of the electronic version of the document to comply with the upcoming deadline of Federal Title II digital-accessibility requirements under the Americans with Disabilities Act. These revisions required additional time beyond the May 1 submission date. There was no impact to the County’s funding, services, or compliance resulting from the delayed submission. Although the CDA did not issue a formal extension, DAAS maintained ongoing communication with CDA regarding the status of the update, and CDA continued to work with DAAS as the revisions were completed. A summary of the revisions made for this update is included in Attachment A to the APU.
PROCUREMENT
Not applicable.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by Human Services (Patty Stevens, Administrative Manager, 388-0241) on September 25, 2026; County Counsel (Jacqueline Carey-Wilson, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on September 30, 2026; and County Finance and Administration (John Hallen, Principal Administrative Analyst, 388-0208) on September 30, 2026.