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Elderly Citizens Living in Poverty 

It is commonly acknowledged that poverty is at the root of most health and human service needs. Mature adults may experience problems performing basic living activities, requiring special assistance from others. Family, private, and government support helps to provide opportunities to sustain independent living The greatest need for unmet services for the elderly are in the middle economic levels, those not eligible for Medicaid. In both Spartanburg County and South Carolina, 13.9% of the 65+ population are at, or below, the poverty level, a decrease over the past 40 years. The percentage of older people living in poverty declined from 35 percent in 1959 to 10 percent in 2002.