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community resources and /or programs that promote financial security and employment <br />through community partnerships. <br />The subcommittee identified several income and employment needs for older adults in our <br />community. These include raising awareness, initiating conversations and providing easily <br />accessible information on the availability of programs and services; partnering with community <br />agencies and working with them to evaluate their services and reduce duplication of services <br />across agencies; promote unbiased information on financial planning, scams, fraud and <br />exploitation prevention; create support channels for seniors who are in the workforce or in <br />retirement; develop a channel to provide ongoing information related to financial planning, <br />funeral /burial arrangements, long -term care options, counseling and legal issues. <br />The Income and Employment Subcommittee identified research to support the subcommittee <br />recommendations. Almost 75 percent of single Social Security recipients ages 65 and older <br />depend on Social Security for all or most of their monthly income. The average older adult <br />receiving Supplemental Security Income receives just $423 each month. Older women <br />typically receive about $4,000 less annually in Social Security than older men due to lower <br />lifetime earnings, time taken off for caregiving, occupational segregation into lower wage work <br />and other issues. One -third of senior households have no money left over at the end of each <br />month or are in debt after meeting essential expenses. <br />The Income and Employment Subcommittee used the information to develop three <br />recommendations. The recommendations are as follows: <br />#1 - Identify and promote awareness of available resources that address relevant <br />information in regards to insurance, final arrangements, legal issues for older adults <br />and their families <br />#2 - Identify and promote awareness of programs that provide short- and long -term <br />public financial assistance <br />#3 - Promote awareness and participation through workforce development to refocus, <br />retrain and reemploy older adults <br />During the first year of the plan, the Income and Employment Subcommittee would establish <br />its own subcommittees for financial resources, public assistance and workforce training. These <br />subcommittees would be asked to identify community agencies to increase participation in <br />speakers bureaus and establish a list of locations for information sessions that would be <br />delivered in five areas across Cabarrus; develop agendas for timely hot topics and provide a <br />training calendar; and to increase accessibility, videotape each type of session for YouTube for <br />online distribution. Finally, implement a survey to evaluate effectiveness of these activities. <br />During the next few years, the subcommittees will conduct ongoing review of the action steps <br />for effectiveness and make changes as reviews and surveys indicate. This will provide <br />accountability and access to information needed by older adults, while allowing the <br />3.17.14 DRAFT Cabarrus County Aging Strategic Plan 10 <br />Attachment number 1 <br />F -5 Page 101 <br />