Experts predict that the everrising number of senior citizens will change the way Americans– especially those in Ventura County–look at economics, healthcare and other social issues.

Driven by the baby boom generation, a recent report by the Centers for Disease Control estimates that the number of people who are over 65 years old will double in the next 25 years. According to the report, California is one of the nine states with the largest senior citizen population in the country.

In an effort to help this emerging population deal with important issues, Ventura County Supervisor Linda Parks will host the first Senior Summit, a series of workshops and a luncheon to take place at Cal State Channel Islands on Sat., Oct. 22.

Parks said the goal of the summit is to give county officials an opportunity to hear from residents, particularly senior citizens, on issues important to them. Using feedback from the event’s 10 workshops, officials will develop a plan to address the needs of the county’s aging population.

“I wanted to look at all the different issues affecting seniors and how the increase in the senior population will affect both seniors and service providers,” Parks said. “The whole basis for this is realizing that we’re going to have more seniors than we’ve ever had before living in our county. Planning for them now, we’ll be better able to meet the demand(s) in the future.”

The event will begin at 9 a.m. with a keynote speech by Bill Watkins, a leading economist at UC Santa Barbara.

Watkins said that on average, the baby boomers are the wealthiest generation in history. He said Southern California will see an increase in retiring seniors from across the United States––a migration that will ultimately drive up local housing prices.

Watkins calls the incoming seniors “amenity migrants.”

“They’re going to be moving here because they like the amenities,” Watkins said. “They like the weather; they like the golf; they like the safe communities.”

Watkins predicts a large uptick in money spent on healthcare services throughout the state.

“Reasonable people expect that healthcare will account for as much as 30 percent of California’s total economy,” Watkins said. Healthcare will be a top issue during the day’s event.

At 10 a.m., attendees will choose from one of 10 workshops. Medical and political leaders from the county will moderate the discussions. Workshop topics will include financial issues, medical costs, nutrition, housing, transportation, healthcare, staying involved, care-giving options, elder abuse and Alzheimer’s/dementia.

Because participants will only be able to attend one workshop, Parks said transcripts from all of the workshops will be made available to those attending as well as to other interested county residents.

Ventura County District Attorney Greg Totten will moderate the workshop on elder abuse.

“Greg Totten was very supportive of the (Senior Summit),” Parks said. “He has a special unit in his office that deals with elder abuse, and this is something that he feels very strongly about.”

Free buses will be available at senior centers throughout the county to help seniors attend the event.

Parks said because she raised over $20,000 in donations, the county will not shoulder any of the event’s costs.

Food companies Jordano’s and Healthy Choice have agreed to donate lunches for the 350 people expected to attend the nearly sold-out event.

Cal State Channel Islands donated the various venues and conference rooms. Other sponsors include AARP, Los Robles Hospital and Amgen.

For information about the Senior Summit or to register, visit the website at www.ventura.org/ seniorsummit.com or call the office of Supervisor Parks at (805) 373-2564.