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The state will need to make major investments and policy shifts to meet the challenge. more »
posted 09/28/22
An aging population and a shrinking health care workforce is set to collide in coming years on... more »
posted 10/29/21

Bethany Thornton's Work

In the coming years, the Baby Boomer generation will be aged 65 and over, and as health care needs increase, more resources for adults with diseases like Alzheimer’s and dementia will be needed on the Central Coast.
As the population ages and the baby boomer generation retires, nurse shortages are projected in California and on the Central Coast. This challenge comes on top of the already depleted health care workforce due to the pandemic.
Professor Peter Rupert, director of the UC Santa Barbara Economic Forecast Project, said the Central Coast population over 65 is bigger than other parts of the state.