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2 <br /> PROCESS: The goals, objectives, strategies and indicators represent 940 community <br /> survey respondents, and the work of over 150 persons, including Orange County <br /> residents, county and town leadership, healthcare systems, faith-based and non-profit <br /> services groups and older adult advocates. All of these stakeholders were involved at <br /> different times during the MAP's development, beginning in summer 2021 with a <br /> community needs assessment survey; followed by 9 community engagement events; <br /> and seven work groups that met over a ten week period; and ending in spring 2022 with <br /> a period of public comment. <br /> Early in the discussions of developing this MAP the MAP Leadership Team embraced the <br /> commitment to racial equity and wanted this MAP to reflect that commitment. The MAP <br /> Leadership Team hosted the Government Alliance on Race and Equity (CARE) training <br /> for workgroup leaders, Orange County Advisory Board on Aging members, and student <br /> interns that would be supporting the MAP work. This 8 hour training provided the tools <br /> for these leaders to carry the One Orange initiative forward in the development of the <br /> goals, objectives, strategies and indicators for this MAP. The One Orange Racial Equity <br /> Framework is designed to ensure that race no longer can be used to predict life outcomes <br /> in the Orange County community. In addition, the OCDOA Director appointed a MAP <br /> Racial Equity Team. This team received an additional DEI certification and were a <br /> resource in all workgroup meetings. <br /> DEMOGRAPHICS: This MAP comes at a particularly crucial point in the history of <br /> Orange County. In 2020, 21% of the population was age 60+ and by 2040 it will be <br /> 26%. This represents a 47.8% change in just 20 years; whereas, children aged 0-17 <br /> years are 17% of the population in 2020 and in 2040 will decline to 15% of the <br /> population which represents a 4.5% change. From 2010-18 Orange County grew by <br /> 12,325 residents, while its 65+ age group grew by 7,575 residents. This means that <br /> 61.5% of Orange County's growth was from the population 65+. Among peer counties, <br /> Orange County is second only to Chatham County in the share of county growth driven <br /> by its 65+ age group (64.5%). The share of growth in this age group is substantially <br /> higher than the state (53.7%). With the continued rise in the 60+ population it reflects <br /> the crucial importance of why this MAP is needed to plan for programs and services that <br /> will serve Orange County's diverse older adult population. <br /> It should be noted that the age 85+ is the fastest going demographic of the older adult <br /> population. In the next 20 years this population will change by 264.2%. This will have <br /> an impact on services and those persons supporting this population. Caregiving <br /> responsibilities will continue to grow and this is starting to be viewed as a public health <br /> priority. There will also be challenges as the likelihood of experiencing some cognitive <br /> impairment as we age also increases. We currently have a shortage of direct care <br /> workers here in Orange County, as well as in the state and across the nation, so our <br /> ability to offer supportive services is limited. We will need to be innovative in our <br /> approaches as how to address these expanding needs. <br /> NEXT STEPS: The success of the MAP depends on continued collaboration and <br /> community involvement over the next five years. Through working together we will build <br /> capacity to support our aging population and make Orange County a great place to age <br />