While Rockford isn’t among the most popular cities in Illinois, more than 24,000 people age 65 and over call it home because of its wide range of senior-focused resources. Since 1974, the Northwestern Illinois Area Agency on Aging (NIAAA) has advocated for greater funding for senior programs related to education, medicine, legal aid, transportation and grandparent services. There are also multiple senior centers in the city, including Lifescape Community Services and G-PAC Senior Center. Active seniors in the city have access to a very walkable downtown area as well as numerous trails and parks throughout the city limits.
To help seniors discover the most senior-friendly locations around the country, Caring.com conducted a new study, “The Best and Worst Places for Senior Living.” The Caring Senior Living Report analyzes and ranks 300 cities and 50 states on the quality of senior living in that area. The cities were graded using 46 metrics across five categories: Health Care, Senior Living & Housing, Affordability, Quality of life, and Transportation.