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STATUS OF SENIORS INITIATIVE
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ARE YOU READY FOR THE AGE WAVE?
How can Mecklenburg prepare for the rise in demand for services and programs that a larger number of older adults will surely bring? The Status of Seniors Initiative is dedicated to answering that question.
- There are approximately 96,784 individuals age 60 or over living in Mecklenburg County. Based on state projections, that figure is expected to rise to over 243,619 by 2030.
(source: NC Population Estimates July 2004 & Projections April 2030)
- More Data Facts...
ACCOMPLISHMENTS (in chronological order)
- The first Status of Seniors Report has been completed. Summaries of the report were given to the BOCC on May 20, 2003.
- Richard "Jake" Jacobsen, Jr. (Director of DSS) presented highlights of the report during the 2003 Council on Aging's Successful Aging Forum.
- The Steering Committee is implementing a strategic planning process (facilitated by The Lee Institute) to be used over future years. The expectation is that any community groups and organizations (for profit, non-profit, and public) will apply the recommendations in their spheres of influence.
- An interactive strategic planning workshop was held on November 10th, 2003. As a result of this event, the 150 participants formed into five workgroups to aid in the development of the strategic plan. View the report on Workshop Outcomes.
- A diverse group from the community gathered on March 17th, 2004 to rank key recommendations from the five work groups.
- The 2004 Strategic Planning Report was presented to the Mecklenburg County Board of Commissioners on May 5, 2004. Commissioner Chair Tom Cox suggested that members of the SOSI be called upon to work with the County Manager whenever older adult related services came up for budget review. The report will be used as a guide during the review of services.
- Sponsored the White House Conference on Aging (May 2005) in Charlotte, NC.
- Completed and published the 2005 Status of Seniors Report whic revised the 5 recommendations into 7 and includes specific strategies.
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HOW IT BEGAN
On May 9, 2002, the Mecklenburg County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) directed the Department of Social Services (DSS) and the Social Services Committee (SSC) of the Human Services Council to develop an annual "Status of Seniors" report.
The intent was to focus on the quality of life for older adults in Mecklenburg County, including but not limited to issues of health, medical care, nutrition, safety, housing, transportation, independence, self-sufficiency and other quality of life factors.
The BOCC also directed that the report assess all community services available to meet current and future needs of older adults in Mecklenburg County, including but not limited to issues of health, medical care, nutrition, safety, housing, transportation, independence, self-sufficiency and other quality of life factors.
The BOCC also directed that the report assess all community services available to meet current and future needs of older adults in Mecklenburg County, including public awareness and involvement in senior issues. The Status of Seniors Report served as the catalyst for the community based strategic planning process which is the Status of Seniors Initiative (SOSI). In 2007 the SOSI Executive Advisory Board chose to merge its voluntary planning effort with the New Council on Aging to gain staff expertise and greater visibility.
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WHO IS INVOLVED IN THIS INITIATIVE?
In 2002 a Steering Committee was formed to guide this endeavor. In 2003 an Executive Advisory Board was formed to champion the recommendations of the committee. The SOSI Steering Committee has become the Emerging Issues/SOSI Committee of the New Council on Aging. Currently, those involved includes:
The New Council on Aging Board includes:
- T. Edmund Rast, Chair Attorney, Moore & Van Allen
- Millard McCluney, Vice Chair, The Realty Corner
- Gerald Fox, Treasurer, Retired Mecklenburg County Manager
- Maryann Gilmore, Secretary, former Managing Editor, Senior Directions
- Paul Babinski, Manager, Liberty HealthCare
- Connie Bonebrake, Post-Acute Care Services, Carolinas HealthCare
- Carla DuPuy, Director of Environmental Affairs Crescent Resources; Former Chair, Mecklenburg County BOCC
- Dr. E. K. Fretwell, Jr. Chancellor Emeritus, University of North Carolina at Charlotte
- Jennefer Cross Garrity, Carrity & Gossage, LLP
- Cynthia Hancock, Sociology Dept., UNC-Charlotte
- John Highfill, Service For Adults Division, Mecklenburg DSS (Ex-Officio)
- Peter Keber, Retired Bank of America executive; Former Mecklenburg County Commissioner
- John Klevins, Director, The Pace at SouthPark
- Cora Mills
- Dr. Bill McCoy, Retired Doctor, UNC Charlotte Urban Institute
- Ada Nicolay
- Mark Peres, Charlotte ViewPoint
- Sarah E. Privette, Regency Retirement Village
- Donald C. Sanders, Retired President, United Way of Central Carolinas
- Marie Shook, Former Assistant County Manager
- Dr. C. Don Steger, Reeder Memorial Baptist Church; Former VP Carolinas HealthCare
- Martha Threatt
- Anja Workman, All For Seniors magazine
The Emerging Issues/SOSI Committee:
- Julie Adams, Manager for the Community Alternatives Program, Mecklenburg Health Dept.
- Rodney Adams, Director of Community Support and Information, Mecklenburg County DSS
- Pam Barrett, Executive Vice President for Organizational Excellence, Hospice & Palliative Care
- Rene Burkley, Relationship Manager, Community Investment, United Way Central Carolinas
- Beth Croom, Director of Programs, Education & Advocacy, Alzheimer's Association
- Nancy E. Culp, Learning and Development Manager, Southminster
- Regina Fisher, Sr. Program Director, YMCA of Greater Charlotte
- Jacqueline C. Glenn, Community Services, Mecklenburg County Health Department
- Maryann Gilmore, Community Volunteer
- Sue Hancharik, Interim Director, Services for Adults, Mecklenburg County DSS
- John Highfill, Program Manager, Services for Adults Division, Mecklenburg County DSS
- Ruth Huey, Director of Health & Community Services, CPCC
- Donna Hughes, Client Services Director, Charlotte Housing Authority
- Hillary Kaylor, Regional Ombudsman, Area Agency on Aging, Council of Governments
- Lynn Martin, Program Supervisor, Mecklenburg County DSS
- Cathy Maya-Matthews, CMC Home Care
- Marsha McElory, Social Worker, Mecklenburg County DSS
- Evelyn Newman, Board of Directors, Council on Aging
- Trena Palmer, Executive Director, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Senior Centers
- Linda R. Pellerin, Executive Director, The Shepard's Center of Charlotte
- Doris Robinson, Charlotte AHEC
- Jennifer Szakaly, Geriatric Care Manager, Caregiving Corner
- Richard Woodcock, Neighborhood Development, City of Charlotte
- Gayla Woody, Director, Centralina Area Agency on Aging
- Eric Young, Council on Aging & Mecklenburg County DSS
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NEXT STEPS
- Promoting continued awareness of the SOS initiative through presentations and networking.
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RELATED DOCUMENTS & ARTICLES
For documents labeled pdf, we recommend you use version 5.0 or higher of Adobe Reader to view them properly. To download a free copy of Adobe Reader, visit the Adobe home page. Hard copies of some reports are available from the New Council on Aging and in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Public Library as indicated below.
Reports & Presentations:
- November 2005 Status of Seniors Initiative Strategic Planning Report - [full report, pdf, 2,240k or ] This report outlines the strategies for each of the recommendations. The report serves as a call to action for both the public and private sectors in Charlotte-Mecklenburg. The recommendations and strategies were developed with the expectation that they will be adopted by groups, businesses, and organizations. An executive summary [pdf, 1,560k] of the report is also available.
- May 2004 Status of Seniors Initiative Strategic Planning Report [full report, pdf, 2465k or executive summary [pdf, 750k] This report outlines the leading SOSI recommendations for creating a more senior-friendly community and strategies for maintaining the focus on this long term initiative. Hard copies of this report are available for in-house review in the Charlotte- Mecklenburg Public Libraries and the UNCC library.
- Embracing the "Age Wave" [pdf, 198k] This link contains the report's executive summary and recommendations which is part of the 2004 Strategic Planning Report. The report, conducted by students of the MPA program at UNC-C, focuses on transportation, care costs, public safety, and service provision relative to Mecklenburg's growing senior population. Findings are based on a survey of older adult service providers conducted during October and November of 2003.
- Status of Seniors Presentation: [PowerPoint Presentation, 347k] This presentation was given by the Director of DSS during the Successful Aging Forum (May 22, 2003).
- May 2003 Status of Seniors Report [pdf, 1602k] This report explains the challenges that Seniors in Mecklenburg County face. The research covers demographics, health, independent living, services, and information and access to services. Information in the report provided the background for the Strategic Planning Report. Data includes comparisons to other counties, state statistics, and national statistics.
- 2002 Mecklenburg Older Adults Survey Report: (pdf, 459k) The report outlines the results of a telephone survey of Mecklenburg County older adults (defined as individuals age 60 and over). This exploratory survey was the first step towards the initial Status of Seniors Report, and designed to provide a profile of older adults, a snapshot of their needs (met and unmet), their concerns for the future, and how older adults view their overall health.
Thematic Maps of Mecklenburg County:
- Percentage of individuals age 35 to 59 by block group in Mecklenburg County. Areas of Growth or potential growth are indicated.
- Percentage of individuals age 60 and over by block group in Mecklenburg County. Areas of Growth or potential growth are indicated.
- Percent of residents in that age group shown on the map with shading and labeling:
- Percent of residents in that age group shown on the map with shading and the number of residents in that age group shown on the map with labeling:
- Status of Seniors: Facility Locations: Shows assisted living, nursing homes, etc. in Mecklenburg County as of February 2004. (pdf, 275k)
Press Releases & Articles:
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RELATED SITES
- The Winter 2004, Volume 1 edition of the Harvard Generations Policy Journal is devoted entirely to the Age Explosion: Baby Boomers and Beyond. The journal contains several articles which further reiterate many of the findings of the Status of Seniors Initiative.
- Congress and the President created the Citizens' Health Care Working Group to hear what you think and then recommend how to make health care work for all Americans. By participating with the Working Group you can have an inside track to influence the deliberations of Congress and the President.
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QUESTIONS?
- Questions about the Status of Seniors Report or the Older Adults Survey? Please contact: Eric Young, Emerging Issues/SOSI Committee staff at 704-432-3507.
- Questions about the strategic planning Process or how you can be involved? Please contact: Eric Young, Emerging Issues/SOSI Committee staff at 704-432-3507.
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