Indianapolis is one of ten communities from across the country participating in a community-building effort focused on creating vibrant, "elder-friendly" or AdvantAged communities. The AdvantAge Initiative began in Indianapolis in late 2001 under the auspices of the local area agency on aging serving Central Indiana, CICOA - Aging & In-Home Solutions. The AdvantAge Initiative developed a framework that defines the components of an "elder-friendly" community. These components are organized into four broad domains or categories:

Is Indianapolis AdvantAged?

Does Indianapolis help older residents maintain their health, live independently, and lead productive and satisfying lives?

Does Indianapolis engage older adults as resources, tapping their civic and social strengths?

Is Indianapolis able to meet the changing needs of the frail, disabled, and homebound?

What do our older residents think about Marion County? Would they consider it elder-friendly?

Is planning for a growing older population a priority here in the Circle City?

Do city and county leaders have reliable data to inform planning?

Those are the questions that a broad-based community survey sought to answer. Quick on a following topic to learn more.