“Age Friendly Evanston!” is a strategy initiated by the City of Evanston to help older adults remain engaged, active and healthy in their community for as long as possible.

In 2013, Evanston Mayor Tisdahl appointed a team of nine residents who are now seniors to serve as the “Age Friendly Evanston!” taskforce. The taskforce works as a group to analyze the community’s physical environment, what affects our mental and social well-being as well as community services and health services. The “Age Friendly Evanston!” taskforce will submit a three-year action plan to the World Health Organization that is inclusive of data collected through focus groups, work groups, and professional roundtable discussions.

The City of Evanston Senior Services Division distributed a survey requesting feedback regarding senior services in the community. Feedback was received between October 19 and November 1, 2013. During that time, 325 surveys were collected.

The survey asked 15 questions on the following topics:

• benefits for seniors through the Evanston Benefit Card;
• affordable housing for seniors;
• transportation and mobility options for seniors;
• activities, programs, services, and centers designed with seniors in mind;
• employment and volunteer opportunities;
• Evanston’s preparedness for an aging population.

The results showed that the top five areas of community life in Evanston are housing, transportation, community and health services, civic participation and employment, and social participation.

The taskforce continues to meet once a month and schedule focus groups and roundtable discussions to learn firsthand, the changes that community members would like to see in Evanston to better meet their needs at every age.