Baby-boomers join forces to make Evanston more ‘age friendly’

Report Chicago/ANNA BISARO

The baby-boomer generation is getting older and Evanston is starting a plan to make a city bursting withNorthwestern University co-eds more accessible to seniors.   

But in order for “Age Friendly Evanston” to work, seniors need to participate. Seniors can fill out surveys and join in focus groups to bring change to Evanston.  

“We can’t do this for the community,” Christina Ferraro, a senior services manager, said. “The community has to do it or it's not going to happen.” 

The percentage of senior citizens, those 65 and older, in Evanston is projected to increase to 25 percent from 12 percent in the next decade Ferraro told a group of seniors gathered at the Levy Senior Center Tuesday afternoon.  

Age Friendly Evanston is a three-year initiative to bring more senior-friendly amenities to downtown.  Seniors have been meeting at the Levy Senior Center and Fleetwood-Jourdain Community Center this week to hear about the program, fill out surveys, sign up for working groups and talk about their grievances. 

“I think it sounds like a great idea,” said Lee Starr, 55, who attended the Tuesday afternoon meeting.  “I came to hear more about what was available.” Starr, though not over age 65, uses the Levy Center regularly to exercise and to have lunch at 11:30 a.m.  

One of the biggest Tuesday, was bicycle riding on the sidewalks.  Seniors complained that despite the signs that prohibit bike riding on the sidewalks, they still feel at risk of being hit by teenagers who are not penalized for breaking the rule.   

Seniors also complained about the lack of parking near restaurants, benches in lakefront parks and public restrooms. 

For those who missed the introductory meetings, surveys are still available at the Levy Center, YMCA and the Evanston Public Library until Oct. 31.  They can also be filled out online at www.cityofevanston.org/agefriendly.  In addition, seniors can call 3-1-1 to talk to trained operators about things they wish to see changed. As of Tuesday afternoon, more than 100 seniors had filed questionaires.  

Not everyone was confident that anything will come of these new surveys.  Bruce Hirsch, 67, has lived in Evanston for 15 years and goes to the Levy Center almost every day to work out and talk to people.  While he is hopeful there will be change because Ferraro and the city government are involved, he raised concerns during the meeting that if nothing were done with the surveys, it would aggravate a population who has already requested change. 

“I am cautious because I fear, at the end of the day, it could be another survey that nobody pays attention to,” Hirsch said after the meeting.  “It’s like poking at a nest of snakes with a stick.” 

Ferraro said there is no guarantee that all changes called for will be made, because of money allocation and resources available. But, she hopes that the program will increase respect and awareness in the community. 

“Each day each of us is aging,” she said. “None of this will negatively affect any other age.” 

After the surveys are compiled and analyzed, a nine-member task force will oversee implementation of the requested changes.  There will also be working groups and focus groups that will require regular senior participation.

Age Friendly Evanston is modeled after a World Health Organization Network of Age Friendly Cities program that focuses on transportation, housing, outdoor spaces and buildings, social participation, community support and health services, communication and information, civic participation and employment, as well as respect and social inclusion.