Age-Friendly

Enable aging in place across all community contexts by integrating local and statewide efforts to ensure Illinois communities are physically, socially, and institutionally age- and dementia-friendly. 

• Embed an aging focus into the state’s ongoing efforts to promote equity and inclusion in all aspects of life ensuring accumulated disparities that compound over a lifetime are acknowledged and addressed. (Short-term) 

• Conduct statewide baseline assessment (e.g., AARP’s Livability Index) of Illinois communities across key dimensions such as housing, neighborhood, transportation, environment, health, engagement, and opportunity, including data points for geography (urban/suburban/rural) and demographic groups, attending to inequities across groups (race, LGBTQIA+, disability) to promote investment in built environment and public infrastructure improvements for aging in place. (Short-term) 

• Promote local government participation in grant programs such as DCEO’s Rebuild Downtowns & Main Streets, which helps fund the modernization of public infrastructure, and align and coordinate funding across state agencies to support equitable community development including exploring a coordinated funding application that combines housing, transportation, and other age-friendly infrastructure into combined community grants. (Short-term) 

• Facilitate greater access to assistive and/or smart technology and services for Illinoisans of all ages with disabilities and health conditions, especially Deaf, Blind, DeafBlind, Hard of Hearing and Late-Deafened (DDBHHLD) individuals, individuals with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities, or those who speak languages other than English. (Short-term) 

• Support investment in technologies that can bridge communication barriers, such as Instant Language Assistant (ILA) Pros for state agencies, local agencies, and nonprofits to facilitate a standardized communication needs assessment and improved care planning. (Mid-term) 

• Explore statewide infrastructure improvement opportunities focused on age-friendly, climate-resilient design of public spaces: for example, sidewalk accessibility, curb cuts, adequate lighting and seating in parks, green infrastructure for stormwater management and cooling, accessible bathrooms, and water fountains. Prioritize investment in communities scoring low on the baseline assessment in coordination with disability- and public health-focused agencies and advocates. (Mid-term) 

• Work to ensure that individuals who are under guardianship, but receive multiple services or resources from public agencies, receive the support needed as they age. (Mid-term)  

• Support Naturally Occurring Retirement Community (NORC) development to strengthen community hubs as centers for connection and services. Identify and support NORCs by layering services, infrastructure improvements, and community programming into existing neighborhoods. Promote the expansion and modernization of senior centers, libraries, parks, and community facilities, with particular attention to communities lacking services and infrastructure. (Long-term)

• Support individuals who are aging in prison by 1) collaboratively informing development of residential units that are specific to individuals with dementia or in need of palliative care and long-term care and other aging-related high needs, and by 2) training security and nonmedical staff on how to work with individuals with dementia. (Long-term)

• Establish Illinois as an Age-Friendly state by creating a statewide age-friendly designation and providing implementation support, including guidance on equity and inclusion, toolkits and design guides for accessible public spaces (including sidewalks, parks, benches with backs, sensory-friendly spaces), community audit checklists, and case studies to increase the number of local cities, townships, communities, health systems, and universities to become livable, age-friendly, and/or dementia friendly. (Long-term)