Cook County launches Age Friendly Action Plan to support older adults
Cook County Public Health and Care Partners are continuing efforts to make Cook County more accessible for older adults through a newly presented Age Friendly Action Plan.
The two organizations shared the plan at the November county board meeting, outlining goals, strategies and measurable outcomes aimed at improving accessibility across the county. The plan is based on the “Nine Domains of Livability,” an AARP framework used to assess and improve age-friendliness in communities.
Five of those domains emerged as priorities during 11 community listening sessions held across the county beginning in October 2023: health services and community support, housing, transportation, disaster preparedness, and communication and information. All five are included in the county’s action plan.
“Every area of this county is so distinctly different, and what’s on the forefront of their mind,” Julie Wilson, Executive Director of Care Partners, told WTIP. “When push comes to shove, we’re all worried about housing, transportation, health care services and disaster preparedness, and then communication and information about those and everything else.”
Many of the challenges identified in the plan are familiar to Cook County residents. High housing costs can make it difficult for older adults to find affordable, single-level homes. The county’s rural geography can contribute to isolation and limit access to essential goods and services. Specialized medical care often requires four-hour round trips to Duluth or longer travel to the Twin Cities. Severe weather can leave vulnerable residents in dangerous situations, while information about available services can be difficult to find.
“Sometimes these all seem like really big issues, and our foundational action plan can be broad,” Wilson said. “But I think that where people see themselves specifically can be smaller items.”
Public Health Educator Andrea Tofte pointed to a recent winter preparedness campaign as an example of how the plan can translate into practical action.
“We developed this checklist, and we really wanted to pick up the wisdom of our older adults,” Tofte told WTIP. “We went to the Hub, to Birch Grove and to Grand Portage, and we had an amazing conversation with our older adults where they shared their wisdom and how they have survived the last four years here, and what they do to prepare for winter.”
The action plan identifies numerous organizations across Cook County that could help implement its goals. Wilson and Tofte emphasized the importance of coordination and communication among community leaders.
“I think the main goal is to not work in silos,” Tofte said. “So continue to be a collaborative effort to know which are the specific partners that we have available or that they are there for the specific goals in the different domains, and continue to build that network.”
According to census data cited in the plan, about 30 percent of Cook County’s population is age 65 or older, compared with 18.2 perecent statewide. The county also has higher-than-average rates of poverty and disability.
Implementation of the action plan began in 2024 and is scheduled to continue through 2029. While the initiative was developed under a grant that will eventually expire, Tofte said the work will continue.
“So this Age Friendly initiative was developed under a grant and the grant will sunset,” Tofte said. “It does not mean that the plan is going to sunset. The plan is going to be carried forward in the community health improvement plan.”
Wilson said the loss of older residents who leave the county for better access to housing or health care remains a concern.
“I’m sure we know many folks who have had to move to communities where there were maybe more healthcare supports or housing options, assisted living. I think it’s a big loss,” Wilson said.
WTIP’s Josh Hinke Spoke with Julie Wilson and Andrea Tofte about the Cook County Age Friendly Action Plan. The audio of that conversation can be found below.
Josh Hinke December 15, 2025
