Senior Initiative

About the Program

Category: Planning (Best in Category)

Year: 2014

The senior population in Montgomery County, Maryland is expected to grow by over 130% between 2000 and 2030, from approximately 98,000 to over 230,000 seniors. In 2008, recognizing this projected population increase, County Executive Ike Leggett convened a “Directors’ Retreat on Promoting Vital Aging in Montgomery County,” addressing the questions of what the County government currently does well to promote vital aging and where the County government needs to improve- now and in the future. This was followed by a Senior Summit, held later that year, from which County government leaders and community stakeholders prioritized the most critical needs of seniors and discussed an action plan to address these needs moving forward. Following the Retreat, in 2009, County Executive Leggett charged the County governmental departments with forming the Senior Sub-cabinet as a work plan for carrying out these stated goals. Together this work has become known as the Senior Initiative, a multi-year, cross departmental project to improve coordination, community outreach and promotion of programs designed to serve seniors and identify and plan for the short and long-term needs of seniors. Between 2009 and 2014, the Senior Initiative, implemented through the Senior Sub-cabinet, has comprised eight separate workgroups, covering the areas of communications and outreach, housing and zoning, transportation and mobility, health and wellness, civic and social engagement, home and community support services, safety, and employment. County government department directors chair the workgroups, and membership is comprised of government, private, and not-for-profit stakeholders. While each workgroup has its own chair, committee, goals, and ongoing agenda, all are working together to ensure that Montgomery County seniors are able to age in the community with safety, dignity, and vitality.