Demographers are telling us to get ready: more people are living longer than ever before. Already, adults over the age of 60 constitute the fastest growing sector in many parts of Illinois. And, the first "baby boomers" will begin to turn 55 in 2001!

These "new" aging adults defy many of the stereotypes sometimes associated with older adults. While some seniors may be frail and require extensive services to stay in their homes, many others are active, healthy individuals interested in second careers and/or recreational opportunities. Personal factors like age, financial status, family support, health, and mobility combine to make older adults both valuable resources to communities, and citizens who look to their community for sensitivity and help as they age in place.

So, how can local officials prepare their governments to serve the needs of this burgeoning group? What are the factors that make a community a good place to live as people age? We asked that question of seniors in northwestern Illinois recently, as part of a joint project of the Northwestern Illinois Area Agency on Aging, and University of Illinois Extension, funded by the Rockford Community Foundation.

Here are five key characteristics of an elder-friendly community, identified during focus group sessions with aging adults in four northwestern Illinois communities:

1. Transportation for people who can no longer drive. It was clear that the way that older adults view their community and their independence shifts dramatically when they stop driving a car.
2. Affordable housing and housing alternatives. Older adults (especially women) may need access to home maintenance services, as well as mowing and snow removal. Seniors are also interested in alternative housing, such as apartments at varying rent levels, and assisted living arrangements.
3. Churches with an active social ministry outreach. Focus group members indicated that an active church community helps curb isolation among older people, and supplements support traditionally given by family members.
4. Strong senior-serving organizations which provide both services and social and recreational programs and activities.
5. A safe and caring community. Seniors described this characteristic as "feeling safe". Visible police protection, crime prevention activities, and "friendly neighbors who showed an interest" were some examples

For a full report of this program, contact Dr. Nancy Caudillo, Northwestern Illinois Area Agency on Aging, 2576 Charles Street, Rockford, IL 61108-1605. Telephone: 815/226-4901.

- Jeri Marxman

Housing is a basic need, and most Americans are well housed. Yet, as people get older, and interests and abilities, financial resources, and family composition change, housing problems may develop in three areas:

1. For some, routine maintenance may become difficult, and the expense of paying others to do it may be too great a financial burden;
2. Physical modifications may be required to meet the residents' needs; and transportation to needed services.
3. People may need or want to move to housing that is more suitable to their current circumstances.

Through programs, run by public or private agencies or organizations, communities can help older people maintain or modify the homes in which they live. Through public policy, communities can assure that a variety of housing types are available and affordable.

University of Illinois Extension in conjunction with Rural Partners and number of key housing development partners has over the past two years developed a workbook for communities interested in pursuing housing development strategies to meet residents' needs. "Community Housing Development: Building a Brighter Future" is a practical step-by-step guide to developing affordable housing in rural areas. Communities may follow the guide utilizing local expertise. Community and Economic Development educators with U of I Extension are also available to provide programming assistance.

- Kathie Brown

Illinois consumers are protected by a requirement that establishments that prepare or serve food have personnel who are certified in the safe handling of food. One way in which food handlers can maintain their certification is through continuing education in food safety. Your U of I Extension office helps provide this continuing education through training provided by Extension Nutrition and Wellness Educators.

Last year in workshops held across Illinois over 950 food handlers received additional training on food safety. Food safety is an important area of research at the U of I. These workshops enable Extension Educators to share research based food safety practices with commercial food handlers. Last summer Extension surveyed a random sample of more than 400 of these food handlers to see if they had been able to apply the information taught. More than 70 percent responded to the survey, which questioned them on 29 food safety practices.

Diners may find it reassuring that over three-quarters of the respondents had already adopted 50 percent or more of the practices. Over 80 percent, however, reported improving food safety in their establishment by adopting one or more additional safe handling practices as a result of the U of I Extension training. In fact, respondents reported on average of identify-ing three to four additional food safety practices.

Over one-third indicated that they had shared what they had learned with others, usually co-workers.

- Charlie Clark

http://www.aarp.org/
AARP home page.

http://www.seniorresource.com/
On line encyclopedia of housing options and information.

http://www.ketc.org/egateway/Illhouse.htm
Some elder housing options in Illinois.

http://www.eldersearch.com/welcome.html
Nationwide senior resource directory.

http://www.eldersearch.com/welcome.html
Illinois department on aging.

The University of Illinois and its Extension do not promote or embrace the views of any of the mentioned websites, they are given as a point for the reader to explore the issu

- Amy L.H. Heilveil