As a young patrol officer, Nathan Hastings, now a Tazewell County Sheriff’s Deputy, remembers getting multiple calls to the home of an elderly woman. She was a “pleasant lady,” he recalled, but she had lost the physical capacity to take care of her home and herself, and there were few family members or friends around to help.

The young deputy tried to connect this woman with resources to help her stay safely in her home and improve her quality of life. He said he was frustrated at every turn by government offices and agencies that did not communicate or work together. He decided that something needed to change.

Now a Tazewell County Sheriff’s Deputy, Hastings said, “That incident caused me to believe I could make a difference in this area. I knew that, once I got into crime prevention, I would have the opportunity to help people not fall into those situations.”

Hastings has seen that vision become a reality as president of Tazewell County TRIAD. The independent nonprofit organization, which came to Tazewell County in 1989, brings together seniors, law enforcement, volunteers, and professionals to improve the quality of life and safety of seniors throughout the county.

Cooperation is the key to TRIAD’s success, Hastings said. Supported by community stakeholders and run almost entirely by volunteers, Tazewell County TRIAD focuses on reducing crime against seniors, enhancing the availability of law enforcement services, and connecting seniors to information and resources for better living. 

“We want our seniors to have a voice for their concerns about crime and safety in their communities,” Hastings said. “We also want to provide an avenue for active seniors who want to help others.”

One TRIAD program that “just wouldn’t happen” without volunteers is Tazfest, the largest senior expo in Tazewell County. After the event languished for a few years before and during COVID, Hastings and a group of dedicated volunteers have built Tazfest into a much-anticipated annual event.

Tazfest 2025 will happen Oct. 1, 10:30am to 1:30pm, at the Fon Du Lac Park District Administration Building, 201 Veterans Dr. It features a free lunch (catered by the Tazewell County Resource Center), dozens of vendors (from home health and pest control to veterans’ organizations and government agencies), guest speakers, prizes and more. It is an opportunity for seniors to connect with one another and engage with life-changing resources. There is no cost for seniors to attend Tazfest.

This year’s guest speakers are Heather Calcara from the Illinois State Attorney General’s Office, speaking on how to avoid scams, and Ruthie Bertram from Ameren Illinois, speaking on disaster preparedness.

Hastings said Tazfest has grown steadily in recent years. Attendance averages more than 200 from across the county, leading the organizers to believe they might soon need to look for a new venue.

“We’re hoping we outgrow the space,” he confessed. “If we are bursting at the seams, we can find a bigger space and put on an even bigger event that more seniors can attend.”

Tazewell County TRIAD offers or helps coordinate a variety of services and programs, including a Speaker’s Bureau with experts on topics such as protecting against fraud and scams, elder abuse prevention, home security, and retirement finances. Speakers are available at no cost for educational events at senior centers, churches, and other community organizations.

Through TRIAD, seniors can complete a File of Life, an at-home medical file that provides a list of contacts and medical information to assist first responders in the event of an emergency. Another program, Tazewell County Care Calls, is a cooperative pilot program with Tazewell County churches who coordinate volunteers willing to check in on shut-ins a couple of times a week.

Hastings said a new workshop on situational awareness will be offered starting in October. It is designed to help seniors be more aware of their surroundings and how to better protect themselves against becoming a target for criminals.

TRIAD works side-by-side with the Center for Prevention of Abuse Adult Protective Services to educate seniors on abuse and neglect. The Center for Youth and Family Services also offers senior services through TRIAD. A program called YES (Youth Empowering Seniors) seeks to close the gap between generations by encouraging high school and college students to volunteer and participate in activities and programs alongside seniors.

Hastings said he hopes to develop a regular schedule of shredding days so seniors can safely dispose of sensitive documents. TRIAD also supports an expired prescription disposal location at the Tazewell County Sherriff’s office.

“We want to help seniors maintain their independence as much as possible,” he said. “That’s why we’re trying our best to get these resources out to them.”

Hastings emphasizes that TRIAD programs and services are available to residents throughout Tazewell County, including small towns like Delevan, Hopedale, Minier, Armington, Mackinaw, Marquette Heights, Creve Coeur, and Deer Creek, as well as larger population centers in Pekin, Morton, Washington, Tremont, and East Peoria.

“I am more than capable of bringing these services to them,” he said. TRIAD has partnerships and strong ties with organizations in all of these communities.

TRIAD is a nationwide initiative started in the 1970s by the National Sheriffs’ Association, the International Association of Chiefs of Police, and the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP). Hastings also serves as the secretary of the Illinois State TRIAD Association, which coordinates TRIAD activities statewide.

Hastings has other duties as a deputy in the crime prevention unit, but he said TRIAD is his passion. Growing up in Henry, IL, he had law enforcement in his family.

“I had a passion to get into public service from a young age,” he said. He has been in law enforcement since 2013 after serving in the military police in the U. S. Navy for five years. He lives in East Peoria with his wife, Jessica, and three children.

“Our goal is to strengthen ties in our communities and take away any stigmas seniors might have about law enforcement personnel,” Hastings said. “We just want them to know we are here to help them.”

Learn more about Tazewell TRIAD services, resources, and volunteer opportunities — including how to donate or be a sponsor at Tazfest 2025 — at www.tazewelltriad.org, or on Facebook at https://facebook.com/TazewellCountyTRIAD.