The Illinois Department on Aging has released a decade-long blueprint to ensure the growing population of older Illinoisans can live dignified, engaged, productive, and meaningful lives at every stage of life.
Governor JB Pritzker says EngAging Illinois: A Comprehensive Plan for Living Well says the bold plan reflects the priorities of the people we serve and the role that state government should play in creating an age-friendly Illinois.
The Plan was developed through an extensive collaborative process established by Governor Pritzker’s Executive Order 2024-02, involving 15 state agencies, a 25-member Community Advisory Council, experts in aging and caregiving, and nine public engagement sessions across Illinois that gathered input from hundreds of residents.
Mary Killough, Director of the Illinois Department on Aging, says this plan is about all of us, working together to create a state full of age-friendly cities, towns, and communities.”
With Illinois’ population over 65 projected to grow 40% by 2035 – reaching nearly 2.9 million people or 22% of all Illinoisans – the plan arrives at a critical moment. It outlines strategies across four focus areas:
- Creating Livable and Connected Communities
- Ensuring Health for All Ages
- Investing in Caregivers
- Affording Aging.
Importantly, EngAging Illinois addresses critical disparities in Illinois’ aging population, noting that life expectancy can vary by more than 20 years in communities just a few miles apart. Poverty rates among older adults have increased 82% over the past 15 years, and one in five Black older adults live at or below poverty level compared to one in 13 white older adults.
Implementation will be overseen by a new EngAging Illinois Commission with representation from State agencies and external partners. Action Groups for each focus area will drive progress on the Plan, with annual reports tracking outcomes. The Plan will be updated every three years.
