Strategic Spartanburg

Since 1950, the United States senior population has tripled while the total population has not quite doubled. With the Baby Boomer generation aging, the number of senior citizens will continue to grow generating an increased need for aging services beginning in the year 2010. As a group, seniors often face costly chronic illness, disability and long-term care decisions, all of which affect Medicare and Medicaid expenses and the need for additional senior services. Spartanburg County needs to prepare for its seniors in order to protect the overall economic and physical health of the county. Strategic planning in this area is already underway to address senior issues from a proactive, collaborative effort that focuses on a holistic approach to keep seniors safe and independent. While collaboration is essential, careful consideration needs to be taken when merging the needs of seniors with the needs of other age levels. Historically, senior issues and needs are hidden when implementing solutions that cross age categories. The Elderly Independence Taskforce determined six critical elements (recommended to begin in 2006) that the county must address in this area. In addition, their overall strategic recommendation was to begin a “No Senior Left Behind” initiative that promotes the active involvement of seniors, both in “giving back” to the community with their talents and resources and in “receiving” the benefits of the senior service improvements.

The purpose of the 2006-2010 Community Improvement Plan is to use the data in Strategic: Community Indicators VI to influence the improvement of Spartanburg and the quality of life for its citizens.  More than 300 Spartanburg citizens contributed to the creation of the Community Improvement Plan.  Each Taskforce developed a comprehensive executive summary report plan  for addressing the issues.  In the following pages you can see the priorities, opportunities, best practices, and partnerships that the Taskforces recommend using to make significant improvement.  By sharing this information it is our hope to provide a common ground for public, private and non-profit leaders to work together to address these and other related issues.