The State of Aging in Sonoma Valley
Early in 2025, Catalyst Steering Committee member Joshua Rymer published the white paper The State of Aging in Sonoma Valley, which revealed that Sonoma Valley is on the forefront of a pronounced demographic shift. Our community has one of the highest percentages of residents age 65+ in California—and by 2030, one in three Valley residents will be a senior.
This shift toward an older population is reshaping our community’s needs in healthcare, housing, transportation, caregiving, and social infrastructure.
To better understand this shift, the Catalyst Fund commissioned consultants Laurie Decker and Cathy Capriola to conduct a Sonoma Valley Senior Needs Assessment. Their report outlines the demographic pressures in the Valley, describes the needs that older adults have, identifies the strengths and challenges of the current system, and importantly, it presents a series of recommendations. The good news is that we have the opportunity now to plan ahead.