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To many this may seem the most natural thing in the world since people have been
"aging in place" for centuries,
particularly in places such as Europe and Mexico where older family
members are cared for and respected. In the U.S.,
however, "aging in place" is starting to mean creating an alternative to assisted living facilities, hiring
expensive in-home help or moving in with the kids.
Perhaps because American society does not appreciate its older
residents as much as it should, or perhaps because baby boomers are
dealing with placing aging parents in continuing care facilities and
seeing what the future holds, nearly one hundred "aging in
place" non-profits have popped up, or are in the planning stages,
creating ways for residents to age comfortably in their own
neighborhoods.
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Neighbors in their 50s,
60s, 70s, 80s and beyond are coming together to start neighborhood
non-profit organizations that charge a yearly membership fee for
residents to have access to providers of all kinds of services,
from home repair to food preparation to security check-ins and
more. This gives older people access to screened help with
just one phone call and lets them know that they are part of a watchful
community, not isolated dealing and with tasks that can sometimes
seem overwhelming.
Instead of needing full-time care, these
residents may only need assistance with common, everyday chores.
And
because aging in place neighborhoods charge less than the average
assisted living facility, they are attractive to many seniors on
limited budgets. A sampling shows that annual
membership dues range from $360 to $1,200, plus a la carte charges
for individual services.
That these aging in place neighborhoods are formed by the
residents themselves puts the residents in charge and gives them a
sense of control, something often lost when older people move into
an assisted living facility. Being in charge often leads to less
depression and a greater sense of security. For
baby boomers used to controlling their own destiny, aging in place
seems like a natural continuation of how they have lived their
lives. The concept is perhaps most beneficial for
older women who often find themselves alone after the death of
their spouse.
These aging in place neighborhoods are not a good choice
for those with serious health problems, but for an aging
population that is relatively healthy, they are an excellent
alternative to current aging housing options. Boston’s Beacon Hill Village is the
prototype and has 400 members; Bronxville, New York, New Canaan, Connecticut, Washington, D.C.
and Palo Alto, California will have newly formed
"neighborhood retirement villages" soon.
Starting an aging in place retirement neighborhood just takes a
concentration of interested residents who plan to stay in their
current homes for years to come, some initiative, a little
planning and a bit of business sense.
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