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SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 29
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(As Amended by Senate Amendment No. 1)


 
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    WHEREAS, The generation born between 1946 and 1964 is 
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rapidly approaching retirement age; a Baby Boomer turns 50 
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every 7.5 seconds; in 2006, the first Baby Boomers turned 60; 
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by 2011, the first Baby Boomers will turn 65; and people 
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turning 50 today have half of their adult lives ahead of them; 
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and

 
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    WHEREAS, This growth trend will hit its peak in 2030, when 
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the number of people over age 65 in the United States will soar 
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to 71.5 million - twice their number in 2000, or 1 in every 5 
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Americans; and

 
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    WHEREAS, The number of people over age 60 in the State of 
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Illinois is projected to increase by 87% from 1,966,236 in 2000 
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to 3,676,295 in 2030 - 1 in every 5 Illinoisans; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Older persons age 60 and older belonging to 
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minority groups will increase from 307,137 in 2000 to 983,396 
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in 2030 - a 220% increase; and

 
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    WHEREAS, The number of persons over 85 in the State of 
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Illinois is projected to increase by 109% from 192,346 in 2000 
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to 402,311 in 2030, representing 11% of the over-60 population; 
 


 






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and

 
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    WHEREAS, A national survey of U.S. counties and cities 
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finds that only 46% of American communities have begun planning 
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to address the needs of the exploding population of Baby 
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Boomers; and

 
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    WHEREAS, The Illinois General Assembly finds that State and 
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community preparedness for the aging of the population will 
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require long-range planning, dialogue across generations, and 
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collaboration among State and local governments and 
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organizations in the private sector; and

 
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    WHEREAS, The Older Americans Act Amendments of 2006 
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authorize the Illinois Department on Aging and the thirteen 
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Area Agencies on Aging to begin the process of assessing the 
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preparedness of the State and communities for the aging of the 
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citizenry, and to formulate recommendations to government 
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officials at the State, county, and local levels in the areas 
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of health and human services, land use, housing, 
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transportation, public safety, workforce and economic 
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development, recreation, education, civic engagement, and 
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emergency preparedness; therefore, be it

 
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    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL 
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ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
 


 






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CONCURRING HEREIN, that the Illinois Department on Aging and 
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the thirteen Area Agencies on Aging, with the advice of the 
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Illinois Council on Aging and the Older Adult Services Advisory 
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Committee, and in collaboration with other departments and 
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offices of State government, AARP and other advocacy 
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organizations on behalf of older adults, local units of 
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government, and organizations in the private sector, shall 
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assess the preparedness of the State of Illinois and counties 
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and communities within the thirteen Planning and Service Areas 
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of Illinois for the aging of the population and shall submit a 
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report with recommendations for the planning and development of 
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livable communities for all ages in Illinois to the Illinois 
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General Assembly, the Office of the Governor, and local 
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officials by January 1, 2009; and be it further

 
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    RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be delivered to 
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the Director of Aging.