By Thomas J. Sheeran
The Associated Press

HIGHLAND HILLS, Ohio - A three-year, $4 million project will attempt to change the definition of retirement for seniors in the Cleveland area.

The Cleveland Foundation began the project Tuesday to show seniors how to stay active and teach communities to value the contributions of older residents. The foundation's work will be based in the Cleveland area, which has a 15 percent senior population, second highest outside the Sun Belt, according to the foundation.

The "Successful Aging Initiative" was outlined at the eastern campus of Cuyahoga Community College during a daylong forum for more than 100 people who work with senior programs. The keynote speaker, Marc Freedman, president of the San Francisco-based Civic Ventures, which studies issues on aging, suggested that a new definition of retirement was needed to take into account the desire of people to slow down their pace while keeping involved.

"What we're doing is inventing a new stage in life," Mr. Freedman said.

The foundation will select five pilot communities to study ways to get the elderly involved, such as transportation that follows doctor appointment schedules and street signs with larger letters.

"We want to establish ourselves as an elder-friendly community," said Stacey Easterling, a foundation program officer.

The program will include grants to promote senior activities and volunteerism, public service announcements, community surveys and coordination with local government programs for the elderly.

The goals include better information on programs available to the elderly, a model community plan on senior programs and heightened awareness of the contributions they make.

Ruth Shaeffer, 79, drove more than 40 miles from her retirement community in Oberlin to share ideas. She also picked up some, such as a suggestion for computer-based courses for the elderly.

"I'm going to keep on going as long as I can," said Ms. Shaeffer, who works with fellow residents to plan outings to nearby Oberlin College and in Cleveland.

She said the foundation program should try to get inactive seniors more involved. "We have to do more in terms of contacting these people and intrigue them" with opportunities, she said.

May L. Wykle, dean of nursing at Case Western Reserve University, said senior-friendly communities must have integrated health care so a senior doesn't need to see doctors in four locations.

Senior-friendly communities also must promote connections between people, not simply provide activities, Ms. Wykle said. "It's not the line dancing. It's the meeting of people," she said.

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