We live in a society that often views aging through a lens of decline. From advertisements promising to “reverse the aging process” to assumptions that older adults are disengaged or deteriorating, the cultural script is clear—and frequently wrong. But a growing body of research reveals that what we expect about aging profoundly shapes our actual experience. This theme is explored in David Robson’s book The Expectation Effect and is confirmed by new data from the 2025 Santa Clara County Age-Friendly Community Survey.
The County of Santa Clara Department of Aging and Adult Services (DAAS), in partnership with local jurisdictions—including the Town of Los Gatos—and service providers, launched this effort in 2024, using AARP’s standardized Age-Friendly Community Survey tool. This initiative fulfills Los Gatos’s commitment as a member of the AARP Age-Friendly Network. Over 2,000 responses were collected across the County by the survey’s close, including approximately 88 responses from Los Gatos residents.
The survey aims to assess how well older adults’ needs are being met in key areas such as housing, transportation, social inclusion, caregiving support, and access to services. These early results—still being finalized—will inform the goals and priorities of Santa Clara County’s Age-Friendly Action Plan. Preliminary countywide data is now available, and a Los Gatos-specific summary was recently presented to the Los Gatos Community Health and Senior Services Commission (CHSSC).
Encouragingly, the data collected so far tells a story not of decline, but of durability. Many older adults across the County—and particularly in Los Gatos—report being active, socially connected, and satisfied with their quality of life. Most survey respondents rated their physical health and mental well-being as good or excellent. They reported regular exercise, community involvement, and a strong sense of purpose.
This positive outlook runs counter to the prevailing assumptions about aging. It also aligns closely with the findings explored in The Expectation Effect, where author David Robson presents a wealth of research showing how beliefs influence outcomes. People who expect aging to bring cognitive decline or physical deterioration often experience just that. But those who maintain positive expectations around aging—believing they can continue to grow, contribute, and enjoy life—tend to live longer, healthier, and more fulfilling lives.
One particularly striking study cited by Robson found that people with positive views of aging lived an average of several years longer than those with more negative perceptions. The implication is clear: mindset isn’t just a matter of attitude—it’s a measurable determinant of health.
That’s why Santa Clara County’s approach to age-friendly planning is so important. It’s not just gathering data—it’s reshaping the narrative. Local governments, community-based organizations like SASCC (Saratoga Area Senior Coordinating Council) and Live Oak, and town commissions like Los Gatos’s CHSSC are building a community culture that supports continued engagement and contribution from older adults.
But this survey is just the beginning. To deepen community involvement and better understand the nuanced needs of older adults, the County is currently hosting a series of Age-Friendly Community Listening Sessions. These sessions provide residents aged 45 and older with the opportunity to help shape the County’s long-range action plan through direct feedback and dialogue.
Upcoming Listening Sessions (Open to residents 45+):
- July 2, 2025 – Virtual Community Listening Session
Register on Eventbrite - July 8, 2025 – Gilroy Library Community Room
Register on Eventbrite
Breakout rooms available in English and Spanish - July 10, 2025 – Martin Luther King Library, Room 225, San Jose
Register on Eventbrite
These two-hour sessions are part of a strategic planning process that prioritizes lived experience and community voice. A flyer with session details has been shared with partner agencies and is available through the County’s Department of Aging and Adult Services.
If aging is as much about how we think as how we feel, then creating age-friendly communities is about more than adding ramps and benches—it’s about changing expectations. When we expect older adults to disengage, we create environments that limit them. When we expect them to thrive, we create systems that empower them.
As Robson writes, “Expectations are not just reflections of reality—they help create it.” In Santa Clara County, we see that truth unfold. Older adults—particularly in places like Los Gatos—are already challenging outdated narratives. Now, through continued participation in surveys, listening sessions, and civic life, they’re helping design communities that support thriving at every age.
