Cedar Rapids, IA, USA  
Digital Edition Digital Edition
Log in Log In My Account My Account
Subscribe Today
The Gazette The Gazette
The Gazette The Gazette
  • COVID-19
  • News
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Food and Drink
  • Business
Digital Edition Digital Edition
Log in Log In My Account My Account
Subscribe
CLOSE
The Gazette
Subscribe
My Account
  • News
    • All News
    • Election 2020
    • Coronavirus
    • Business News
    • Community
    • Crime and Courts
    • Education
    • Government
    • Health
    • Nation and World
    • Time Machine
    • Search Archive

    Our Journalists

    • Rod Boshart
    • Lee Hermiston
    • Erin Jordan
    • James Q. Lynch
    • Trish Mehaffey
    • Vanessa Miller
    • Kat Russell
    • Grace King
    • John Steppe
    • Gage Miskimen
    • Marissa Payne
  • Sports
    • All Sports
    • Iowa Hawkeyes
    • Hawkeye Football
    • Hawkeye Basketball
    • Prep Sports
    • Prep Volleyball
    • Prep Football
    • Prep Basketball
    • Prep Wrestling
    • Iowa State Cyclones
    • UNI Panthers
    • Small College Sports
    • Minor League Sports
    • Outdoors

    Sports Desk

    • Mike Hlas
    • Jeff Johnson
    • Jeff Linder
    • J.R. Ogden
    • K.J. Pilcher
    • Leah Vann
  • Opinion
    • All Opinion
    • Editorial Mission
    • Guest Columnists
    • Letters to the Editor
    • Political Cartoons
    • Staff Columnists
    • Staff Editorials
    • Submit a Letter or Column

    Our Columnists

    • Todd Dorman
    • Adam Sullivan
  • Food and Drink
    • All Food and Drink
    • Chew on This
    • Recipes
    • Restaurants
  • Business
    • All Business
    • Agriculture
    • Business Notes
    • Companies
    • Personal Finance
    • Economy
    • Employment
    • Energy
    • Manufacturing
    • Openings & Closures
    • Real Estate
    • Retail
    • Small Business
    • Transportation

    Our Journalists

    • Rod Boshart
    • Erin Jordan
    • John Steppe
  • Obituaries
    • All Obituaries
    • In Memory Of
    • Submit an Obituary
  • Podcasts
    • All Podcasts
    • Daily News Podcast
    • Fact Checker
    • Hlastradamus Odds
    • Iowa Prep Sports
    • On Iowa
    • On Iowa Politics
    • On UNI
    • Pinning Combination
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • Art
    • Books
    • Museums & Galleries
    • Music
    • Theater
    • Things To Do
  • Living
    • All Living
    • Health & Wellness
    • Home & Garden
    • Milestones
    • People & Places
    • Pets & Animals
    • Recreation
    • Religion & Belief
    • Travel

    Our Writers

    • Diana Nollen
    • Elijah Decious
  • Kids Gazette
    • See All
    • Kids Cooking Series
    • Kids Galleries
    • Printables
    • Activities
    • Articles
    • Submissions
    • Resources
  • Photos
    • All Photos and Videos
    • The Iowa Photo
    • Photo Store

    Our Photojournalists

    • Andy Abeyta
    • Liz Martin
    • Rebecca Miller
    • Jim Slosiarek
    • Gazette Visuals
  • Milestones
    • All Milestones
    • Anniversaries
    • Days To Remember
    • Engagements
    • Holidays
    • In Remembrance
    • New Arrivals
    • Thank Yous
    • Submit a Milestone
  • Data
    • Arrests
    • Building Permits
    • Interactive Maps & Charts
    • Salaries
  • Gazette Sites
    • Classifieds
    • Corridor Careers
    • Garage Sales
    • Gazette Gives Back
    • Gazette Rewards
    • Gazette Store
    • Green Gazette
    • HER
    • Iowa Wedding Experience
    • Holiday Light Finder
    • Hoopla
    • Iowa Ideas
    • Photo Store
  • Special Events
  • Special Sections
  • Other
    • About The Gazette
    • Archives
    • Article Removal
    • Business Directory
    • CR Arrest Database
    • Mobile Apps
    • Customer Care
    • Order Back Issues
    • Privacy Policies
    • Puzzle Answers
    • Sponsorship Requests
    • Submit a Letter
    • Weather
  • Digital Edition
Daily News PodcastDaily News Podcast
Daily NewslettersDaily Newsletters
Log out

FOLLOW US

The Gazette
  • News
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Food and Drink
  • Business
  • Obituaries
  • Podcasts
  • Entertainment
  • Living
  • Kids Gazette
  • Photos
  • Milestones
  • Data
  • Gazette Sites
  • Special Events
  • Special Sections
  • Other
  • Digital Edition
  • All News
  • Election 2020
  • Coronavirus
  • Business News
  • Community
  • Crime and Courts
  • Education
  • Government
  • Health
  • Nation and World
  • Time Machine
  • Search Archive

Our Journalists

  • Rod Boshart
  • Lee Hermiston
  • Erin Jordan
  • James Q. Lynch
  • Trish Mehaffey
  • Vanessa Miller
  • Kat Russell
  • Grace King
  • John Steppe
  • Gage Miskimen
  • Marissa Payne
  • All Sports
  • Iowa Hawkeyes
  • Hawkeye Football
  • Hawkeye Basketball
  • Prep Sports
  • Prep Volleyball
  • Prep Football
  • Prep Basketball
  • Prep Wrestling
  • Iowa State Cyclones
  • UNI Panthers
  • Small College Sports
  • Minor League Sports
  • Outdoors

Sports Desk

  • Mike Hlas
  • Jeff Johnson
  • Jeff Linder
  • J.R. Ogden
  • K.J. Pilcher
  • Leah Vann
  • All Opinion
  • Editorial Mission
  • Guest Columnists
  • Letters to the Editor
  • Political Cartoons
  • Staff Columnists
  • Staff Editorials
  • Submit a Letter or Column

Our Columnists

  • Todd Dorman
  • Adam Sullivan
  • All Food and Drink
  • Chew on This
  • Recipes
  • Restaurants
  • All Business
  • Agriculture
  • Business Notes
  • Companies
  • Personal Finance
  • Economy
  • Employment
  • Energy
  • Manufacturing
  • Openings & Closures
  • Real Estate
  • Retail
  • Small Business
  • Transportation

Our Journalists

  • Rod Boshart
  • Erin Jordan
  • John Steppe
  • All Obituaries
  • In Memory Of
  • Submit an Obituary
  • All Podcasts
  • Daily News Podcast
  • Fact Checker
  • Hlastradamus Odds
  • Iowa Prep Sports
  • On Iowa
  • On Iowa Politics
  • On UNI
  • Pinning Combination
  • All Entertainment
  • Art
  • Books
  • Museums & Galleries
  • Music
  • Theater
  • Things To Do
  • All Living
  • Health & Wellness
  • Home & Garden
  • Milestones
  • People & Places
  • Pets & Animals
  • Recreation
  • Religion & Belief
  • Travel

Our Writers

  • Diana Nollen
  • Elijah Decious
  • See All
  • Kids Cooking Series
  • Kids Galleries
  • Printables
  • Activities
  • Articles
  • Submissions
  • Resources
  • All Photos and Videos
  • The Iowa Photo
  • Photo Store

Our Photojournalists

  • Andy Abeyta
  • Liz Martin
  • Rebecca Miller
  • Jim Slosiarek
  • Gazette Visuals
  • All Milestones
  • Anniversaries
  • Days To Remember
  • Engagements
  • Holidays
  • In Remembrance
  • New Arrivals
  • Thank Yous
  • Submit a Milestone
  • Arrests
  • Building Permits
  • Interactive Maps & Charts
  • Salaries
  • Classifieds
  • Corridor Careers
  • Garage Sales
  • Gazette Gives Back
  • Gazette Rewards
  • Gazette Store
  • Green Gazette
  • HER
  • Iowa Wedding Experience
  • Holiday Light Finder
  • Hoopla
  • Iowa Ideas
  • Photo Store
  • About The Gazette
  • Archives
  • Article Removal
  • Business Directory
  • CR Arrest Database
  • Mobile Apps
  • Customer Care
  • Order Back Issues
  • Privacy Policies
  • Puzzle Answers
  • Sponsorship Requests
  • Submit a Letter
  • Weather
Daily News PodcastDaily News Podcast Daily NewslettersDaily Newsletters
LOG OUT

FOLLOW US

More Stories

Brucemore celebrates 40 years of being open to the public

IMU COVID vaccine clinic coming

Meet the Iowan behind the Vaccine Hunter website

Wellington Heights home gutted in 2017 fire finally coming down

26-year-old man killed in shooting in NE Cedar Rapids

Peggy Whitson to be keynote speaker for Iowa Ideas 2021

Here’s how to get rid of your derecho tree debris

Livestream: Funeral for Iowa state trooper Jim Smith

Home / Life

New organization offers Johnson County seniors tools to age in place

Erin JordanBy: Erin Jordan Feb. 19, 2017 11:00 am Updated: Feb. 19, 2017 11:00 am
New organization offers Johnson County seniors tools to age in placeNew organization offers Johnson County seniors tools to age in placeNew organization offers Johnson County seniors tools to age in placeNew organization offers Johnson County seniors tools to age in placeNew organization offers Johnson County seniors tools to age in placeNew organization offers Johnson County seniors tools to age in placeNew organization offers Johnson County seniors tools to age in placeNew organization offers Johnson County seniors tools to age in place

IOWA CITY - Susan Shullaw is a spry 65-year-old with her own strategic communications firm and a beloved home in Iowa City's Northside neighborhood. But she knows someday she'll need help to stay in her house as she ages.

Shullaw is part of a group of Johnson County residents starting a not-for-profit organization called TRAIL aimed at helping seniors get the help they need to age in place.

'We saw an immediate need, but we also thought of ourselves in the future,” she said.

TRAIL - or Tools and Resources for Active Independent Living - is part of the Village to Village Network, a national organization started in 2010 in Boston's Beacon Hill neighborhood, that provides guidance and connection to 'villages” across the country.

With 16 percent of the population age 65 or older in 2015, Iowa is one of the grayest states in the nation. And yet, Johnson County TRAIL is the first village in Iowa, according to the Village to Village website.

TRAIL offers two membership levels. A full membership, which costs $600 a year for singles and $960 a year for households, includes volunteer assistance, access to a list of prescreened service providers and participation in TRAIL-sponsored social events. An affiliate membership excludes the volunteer services and costs $100 a year for singles and $160 a year for households.

The volunteer assistance could include daily check-ins, minor repairs, computer help or someone to accompany a member to a doctor's appointment to help with taking notes and asking questions. TRAIL will have special training for medical advocacy and driving, Shullaw said.

'It could be as simple as having someone change your smoke detector, walk the dog or give you a ride to the doctor,” she said.

More than 100 people packed a meeting room at the Iowa City Public Library last week to learn more about TRAIL.

Attendees asked questions about home health providers, equal use of volunteer services and whether there would be enough volunteers. Organizers said they hope to tap into the University of Iowa to connect with students in nursing, social work and other disciplines, as well as invite community members and more able-bodied TRAIL members to volunteer.

'It's marvelous,” said Carl Klaus, 84, of Iowa City. 'It's a service that doesn't really exist in Iowa City.”

Klaus can navigate the steps of his four-level house now, but he may not be able to in the future. That doesn't mean he wants to move into an apartment, he said.

TRAIL is hiring an executive director and hopes to have 20 to 30 members by this spring, Shullaw said. Over the next five years, they would like to have 100 full-time members and 150 affiliates.

'If we can do this right, we hope it can be a model for the rest of the state,” she said.

l Comments: (319) 339-3157; erin.jordan@thegazette.com

Susan Shullaw (center), a member of the board of directors for TRAIL of Johnson County, speaks during the University of Iowa's Obermann Center for Advanced Studies Conversations series 'Successfully Aging in Place: Keeping Older Johnson County Residents in Our Neighborhoods' at the Iowa City Public Library in Iowa City, Iowa, on Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2017. TRAIL (Tools and Resources for Active Independent Living) is a program formed by Iowa City-area seniors interested in developing community-based solutions that allow seniors to continue to live in their homes and age in place. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)
John A. Hartford Geriatric Social Work Faculty Scholar and University of Iowa Director of Aging Studies Mercedes Bern-Klug speaks during the UI Obermann Center for Advanced Studies Conversations series 'Successfully Aging in Place: Keeping Older Johnson County Residents in Our Neighborhoods' at the Iowa City Public Library in Iowa City, Iowa, on Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2017. TRAIL (Tools and Resources for Active Independent Living) is a program formed by Iowa City-area seniors interested in developing community-based solutions that allow seniors to continue to live in their homes and age in place. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)
Audience members react to the discussion during the University of Iowa's Obermann Center for Advanced Studies Conversations series 'Successfully Aging in Place: Keeping Older Johnson County Residents in Our Neighborhoods' at the Iowa City Public Library in Iowa City, Iowa, on Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2017. TRAIL (Tools and Resources for Active Independent Living) is a program formed by Iowa City-area seniors interested in developing community-based solutions that allow seniors to continue to live in their homes and age in place. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)
Susan Shullaw (right), a member of the board of directors for TRAIL of Johnson County, speaks during the University of Iowa's Obermann Center for Advanced Studies Conversations series 'Successfully Aging in Place: Keeping Older Johnson County Residents in Our Neighborhoods' at the Iowa City Public Library in Iowa City, Iowa, on Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2017. TRAIL (Tools and Resources for Active Independent Living) is a program formed by Iowa City-area seniors interested in developing community-based solutions that allow seniors to continue to live in their homes and age in place. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)
TRAIL of Johnson County board of directors member Nancy Hauserman (right) speaks as Susan Shullaw looks on during the University of Iowa's Obermann Center for Advanced Studies Conversations series 'Successfully Aging in Place: Keeping Older Johnson County Residents in Our Neighborhoods' at the Iowa City Public Library in Iowa City, Iowa, on Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2017. TRAIL (Tools and Resources for Active Independent Living) is a program formed by Iowa City-area seniors interested in developing community-based solutions that allow seniors to continue to live in their homes and age in place. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)
John A. Hartford Geriatric Social Work Faculty Scholar and University of Iowa Director of Aging Studies Mercedes Bern-Klug speaks during the UI Obermann Center for Advanced Studies Conversations series 'Successfully Aging in Place: Keeping Older Johnson County Residents in Our Neighborhoods' at the Iowa City Public Library in Iowa City, Iowa, on Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2017. TRAIL (Tools and Resources for Active Independent Living) is a program formed by Iowa City-area seniors interested in developing community-based solutions that allow seniors to continue to live in their homes and age in place. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)
TRAIL of Johnson County board of directors member Maggie Elliott answers an audience member's question during the University of Iowa's Obermann Center for Advanced Studies Conversations series 'Successfully Aging in Place: Keeping Older Johnson County Residents in Our Neighborhoods' at the Iowa City Public Library in Iowa City, Iowa, on Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2017. TRAIL (Tools and Resources for Active Independent Living) is a program formed by Iowa City-area seniors interested in developing community-based solutions that allow seniors to continue to live in their homes and age in place. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)
TRAIL of Johnson County board of directors member David Rust answers an audience member's question during the University of Iowa's Obermann Center for Advanced Studies Conversations series 'Successfully Aging in Place: Keeping Older Johnson County Residents in Our Neighborhoods' at the Iowa City Public Library in Iowa City, Iowa, on Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2017. TRAIL (Tools and Resources for Active Independent Living) is a program formed by Iowa City-area seniors interested in developing community-based solutions that allow seniors to continue to live in their homes and age in place. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)
Erin Jordan

Erin Jordan

Investigative Reporter, The Gazette

I'm a Cedar Rapids Gazette investigative reporter.

Iowa prepares for second hemp season

University of Iowa pharmacy students practice giving shots

Iowa OSHA: Anamosa prison didn’t have reliable radios

House committee approves $17 million more for Workday computer system

Gov. Reynolds gives $96,000 in bonuses to 2 agency leaders

All articles by Erin

Give us feedback

We work hard to provide fair, accurate coverage because we value your trust. If you find an error or omission in our reporting, please tell us here.

Submit a story idea

Do you have a story idea that we should look into? Please tell us here.

Related Stories

Former choir teacher now works ‘for the tree canopy of…

Former choir teacher now works ‘for the tree canopy of…

Marissa Payne News Mar. 19, 2021 12:24 am

Taft Middle School aide receives state award for going above…

Taft Middle School aide receives state award for going above…

Grace King Education Mar. 11, 2021 3:25 pm

Iowa City teacher leaps back into magic, mentalism this year…

Iowa City teacher leaps back into magic, mentalism this year…

Diana Nollen People & Places Dec. 26, 2020 5:40 pm

Life

Brucemore celebrates 40 years of being open to the public

Brucemore celebrates 40 years of being open to the public

Diana Nollen

Living Apr. 16, 2021 10:33 am

Meet the Iowan behind the Vaccine Hunter website

Meet the Iowan behind the Vaccine Hunter website

Michaela Ramm

Health Care and Medicine Apr. 15, 2021 2:03 pm

Tracy Bell has been perfect for 5 decades

Tracy Bell has been perfect for 5 decades

By Lane Lafler

Recreation Apr. 15, 2021 3:30 pm

Sowing Success

Sowing Success

Dorothy de Souza Guedes

Home & Garden Apr. 11, 2021 1:45 pm

People & Places

Meet the Iowan behind the Vaccine Hunter website

Meet the Iowan behind the Vaccine Hunter website

Michaela Ramm

Health Care and Medicine Apr. 15, 2021 2:03 pm

After 25 years of problem-solving, city of Iowa City’s attorney…

After 25 years of problem-solving, city of Iowa City’s attorney…

Lee Hermiston

Government & Politics Apr. 1, 2021 5:01 pm

Interim parks director prepares to step into permanent role as…

Interim parks director prepares to step into permanent role as…

Gage Miskimen

Community Mar. 25, 2021 5:09 pm

Scholarship opens doors for Mount Vernon High School senior

Scholarship opens doors for Mount Vernon High School senior

Diana Nollen

Community Mar. 3, 2021 11:34 pm

News

Crackdowns on advance voting belie growing popularity among all voters

Crackdowns on advance voting belie growing popularity among all voters

AP

News Apr. 16, 2021 5:19 pm

Here’s how to get rid of your derecho tree debris

Here’s how to get rid of your derecho tree debris

, Marissa Payne

Community Apr. 16, 2021 9:30 pm

100 days after attack, Hinson wants Capitol fence to be…

100 days after attack, Hinson wants Capitol fence to be…

James Q. Lynch

Government & Politics Apr. 16, 2021 8:50 pm

Iowan accused of assaulting officers during Capitol riot

Iowan accused of assaulting officers during Capitol riot

Washington Post

Crime and Courts Apr. 16, 2021 9:11 pm

Sports

Kylie Feuerbach: Former Cyclone, future Hawkeye

Kylie Feuerbach: Former Cyclone, future Hawkeye

Jeff Linder

Hawkeye Basketball 3h ago

Taylor Mouser, tight ends to attempt takeover of the Iowa…

Taylor Mouser, tight ends to attempt takeover of the Iowa…

Ben Visser

Iowa State Cyclones 4h ago

5 things I’m watching at my first Iowa football open…

5 things I’m watching at my first Iowa football open…

Leah Vann

Hawkeye Football Apr. 16, 2021 7:56 pm

Photos: Iowa Hawkeyes softball vs. Northwestern Wildcats

Photos: Iowa Hawkeyes softball vs. Northwestern Wildcats

Jim Slosiarek

Apr. 16, 2021 7:45 pm

FOLLOW US

The Gazette is Iowa’s independent, employee-owned source for local, state, and national news coverage.

© 2021 The Gazette

All Rights Reserved.

  • Advertise with us
  • Privacy
  • Web Accessibility

Contact Us

  • 116 3rd St SE
    Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
  • customercare@thegazette.com
  • (319) 398-8333
  • Live Chat

Links

  • Puzzle Answers
  • CR Arrest Database
  • Article Removal Request
  • Gazette Archives
  • Green Gazette
  • Corridor Careers Jobs
  • Work at The Gazette
  • Customer Care

© 2021 The Gazette

All Rights Reserved.

  • Advertise with us
  • Privacy
  • Web Accessibility
Folience A Folience Company