Behavioral health treatment is the foundation for community connection, independence, and stable housing. Yet older adults—particularly older adults of color—experience significant barriers to accessing the care they need. Ageism, racism, and homophobia compound those barriers further. A 2023 California Department of Aging survey found that 40% of older adults report feeling lonely or isolated and 45% reported feeling depressed.
California’s Behavioral Health Services Act (BHSA), passed in 2024, presents a momentous opportunity to address the behavioral health needs of older adults and tackle long-standing barriers to care. But first, the implementation of the act must prioritize the needs of older adults, including those who experience depression and isolation, have a substance use disorder, or have experienced trauma, and the caregivers who support them.
Justice in Aging launched a project in early 2026 to partner with advocates, the state of California, and counties throughout the state to ensure these needs are prioritized in BHSA implementation.
