Susan DeMarois was appointed by Governor Gavin Newsom to serve as Director of the California Department of Aging on November 1, 2021. In this role, she leads California’s State Unit on Aging, overseeing a broad range of home and community-based services while advocating for older adults, people with disabilities, and family caregivers. The department holds primary responsibility for implementing the Governor’s Master Plan for Aging – California’s 10-year blueprint that calls on all sectors of government and society to build an age and disability forward state by 2030 when one in four people will be 60 or older.
Since taking on this role, Director DeMarois and her team have led 46 new initiatives, focusing on strengthening the direct care workforce, rebuilding community infrastructure post-pandemic, raising awareness of aging and disability services, and bridging the digital divide for older adults. Her top priority has been creating a “No Wrong Door” system across California communities, with Area Agencies on Aging, Caregiver Resource Centers and Aging and Disability Resource Connections as key partners in building a future-ready network.
Prior to her appointment, Director DeMarois spent over a decade as the California lobbyist and government affairs director for the national Alzheimer’s Association. Her career also includes leadership roles in government and community relations at UC Davis Health System, and early experience with LeadingAge California.