Support our older Iowans

The Johnson County Livable Community Policy Board was delighted to learn that Iowa City has been selected as the No. 1 Small Metro in Milken Institute's Best Cities for Successful Aging.

This ranking was based on eight sub-components: General, health care, wellness, financial, living arrangements, employment education, transportation/convenience and community engagement.

Johnson County, with its urban-rural mix, has it all, but we recognize that there is more that can be done.

The policy board conducts its work through a network of action teams and committees and with the assistance of a part-time administrative specialist.

The following is a list of our current action teams and committees, which typically meet for one hour each month:

' Aging in Place Action Team: This team explores and disseminates information about resources and support available to allow older adults to age in their homes and continue to be a part of an environment where they can lead active, independent and social lives within a familiar neighborhood.

' Communications Committee: This committee creates and updates materials that help the policy board and action team members inform the community about overall goals and efforts, publicizes events and activities and disseminate informational resources for successful aging throughout the community.

' Fall Prevention Action Team: This action team seeks ways to reduce falls for older adults. This group implemented Sure Steps, which is a community-based fall prevention effort to inform Johnson County residents about the costs and risk factors associated with falls, and to encourage utilization of prevention steps and services available for seniors.

' Housing Action Team: Affordability, accessibility and availability of adequate housing options are key components of a livable community. Johnson County offers resources for each component to help seniors maintain their independence. The Livable Communities Housing Action Team is leading collaborative efforts to ensure these important components remain available for older residents of Johnson County.

' Transportation Action Team: This group provides education to older adults about transportation options and attempts to fix gaps in transportation services.

' Visibility of LGBTQ Action Team: The Visibility Action Team provides lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer older adults and their caregivers with information about important aging topics, especially those unique to this group.

On behalf of the Johnson County Livable Community Policy Board, I urge the county, all area communities, businesses, agencies, organizations and citizens to work together to make Johnson County the best place to grow old.

Go to www.livablecommunity.org to read the Milken Institute report, find out more about our efforts and how you can get involved.

' Jeff Kellbach is chairman of the Johnson County Livable Community Policy Board. Comments: jkellbach@abbe.org