(CAPITOL CITY NOW) – The state has rolled out what it describes as a “multi-sector plan for aging.” 

It’s called EngAging Illinois, and its chief planning officer, Michelle Hoersch, says it includes four focus areas: “creating livable connected communities, ensuring health for all ages – obviously, that is critically important – investing in caregiving, and affording aging. Those were considered four of the domains where, when we looked at our efforts, (we asked ourselves) how could we pull them together in a meaningful way?”

EngAging Illinois is part of the Illinois Department on Aging.

Hoersch describes the program’s web site as “a work in progress, and so there will be ongoing updates. Right now we are starting with the basic web site, which will soon grow into much more of a resource repository and include more navigation for individuals as they need things. It will become more and more sophisticated over time.”

When asked what EngAging Illinois will include which the state is currently not doing, Hoersch responded that the emphases on connections and caregiving stand out.