A1. AGING IN PLACE: INTENTIONAL COMMUNITIES
An option for seniors and soon-to-be-seniors concerned about present
or future living arrangements is "intentional community," or
"cohousing." An "intentional community" is one in
which people with a common purpose, consciously committed to living as
a community, and in, for our definition, aging in place; however, the
main ingredient in all intentional communities is the strategy of bringing
services to people rather than moving people to services, in order to
avoid the premature loss of independence, social isolation, and lack of
needed services.
"Cohousing" refers to a type of collaborative housing that
attempts to overcome the alienation of modern subdivisions in which no
one knows his or her neighbor, and where there is no sense of community.
The typical cohousing community has 20 to 30 units, privately owned single-family
homes or apartments, arranged in such a way as to encourage interaction
with neighbors. It often has a common house, workshops, shared gardens
and a greenhouse, meeting and exercise rooms, and often a common kitchen
and dining room where residents may choose to prepare and share meals.
In many cases, more than one generation of a family will live in cohousing.
You'll find these types of housing in California, Massachusetts, Washington,
Oregon, and Colorado, though they're spreading more widely across the
country. Although most intentional communities are located on their own
land, the most famous exception is Beacon Hill Village, which was founded
in 2001 and is located in Boston. This "community" for persons
over 50 living at home serves not only the Beacon Hill area, but also
Charlestown, the Waterfront, and the West, South, and North ends of the
city. For a membership fee, it provides community wellness classes and
other scheduled social and educational events, regular trips to grocery
stores (yes, including Trader Joe's) and rides to medical appointments.
The office can also hook you up with a vetted person to walk your dog,
deliver your dinner, fix your computer, hang that crooked picture, fix
your leaky faucet, or provide Medicare or tax information. You can read
more about Beacon Hill Village at www.beaconhillvillage.org
If you have an interest in starting your own "village" (and
at least 3,000 organizations do), BHV has initiated a "Village to
Village Network." Based on requests they've received, they plan to
offer member Villages most of the following: (1) A real person (a "buddy")
at another organized Village who has experienced what you are doing and
is willing and available to councel you; (2) templates for incorporating,
filing for tax-exempt status, recruiting members, etc.; (3) online software
tools for member management, bookkeeping, building your own web site,
etc.; (4) printable materials that can be customized to your Village;
(5) chat rooms, webinars, blogs, and the like, to share experiences; and
(6) group discounts that they have been able to negotiate on goods and
services for members. The new website for all this material is www.vtvnetwork.org
The Village to Village Network is a collaboration between Beacon Hill
Village and NCB Capital Impact.
Nyland Cohousing, outside Boulder, Colorado, is a good example of "cohousing."
Begun in 1992, Nyland is composed of 42 units on 42 acres, so each residence
has 1/42 of the say in determining issues that affect all the residents.
This is a multi-generational community, and there are some small-to-almost-grown
kids on the property. This particular community is a bit more committed
to "living gently on the land" than some others, so don't expect
silk curtains and a golf course here. Nyland also has common rooms and
a kitchen where residents take about three meals a week. It also boasts
adult-only evenings where alcohol is served and kids are specifically
not invited. Check out Nyland's website at www.nylandcohousing.org
A caveat: These two types of senior housing, though usually less expensive
than "formal" senior housing, are generally for those of us
who live with friends or family, or who want to make new friends to be
with throughout our elder years. They are more "cuddly," and
may afford a little less privacy than one may be used to. It's a trade-off-community
or cohousing = more independence and the possibility of new friendships,
versus traditional senior living = more privacy and formal living arrangements.
It's another choice, folks.
For more information on intentional communities and cohousing, see "intentional
community," "cohousing," and "senior communities"
on the Web.
Find related information for seniors about Aging in Place at http://www.seniorresource.com/ageinpl.htm
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A2. HOW TO CLEAN OUT A HOUSE
This is the second article in a series that will appear over the
following months.
You've seen the horror on TV: The sad views of "a hermit's place" on
salacious local news broadcasts. People say "never in my life." Well,
since we all get elderly, guess again.
It happens all the time. Perhaps a senior has limited family in the area,
is served by Meals-on-Wheels, and is a recluse. One day they don't open
the door for the nice lady who brings lunch and the police are summoned…and
you know the rest. The trash got too heavy, so the papers got stacked
by the back door instead of taken out. The envelopes were too many to
sort so they got stacked until there was "time" to open them and now they
cover every horizontal surface in the home. It may be very dusty, and
dirty because shut-ins can lose perspective (and the will to clean; it
seems overwhelming!). You get to go through every shred of it and decide
what to toss, save, and what to examine later.
Begin With The Mail
The danger here is not in throwing away a memory. The danger is in throwing
away documents that lead to an estate, constitute an estate, or represent
assets of the estate. If your relative had a bond mature, the notice comes
in the postal mail…and looks non-descript, like all the junk mail-except
that such a notice represents thousands of dollars waiting to be claimed.
Gather, open, and sort everything no matter how long it takes. You may
want to take the envelopes home to open and sort them. Open all the windows
in the home and air it out so you aren't subject to a musty room while
you work, and as soon as you've gathered all the envelopes and cleared
away a room, send in the vacuum cleaner.
Office Files
A retired businessperson's home office will often have much more than
current business items stored in its cabinets. Look for old envelopes
that may evidence a forgotten account number-it happens all the time,
and you'll be able to follow up the lead. Insurance policies are often
forgotten, and may have slim documentation. Be aware of any type of life
insurance company mail, and follow up. Offices are also where memories
are sometimes stored, so look for beloved pictures and other family heirlooms
you'll want to preserve, as well. Don't be surprised if you see documents
with names on them you don't recognize. Gather them and follow up. The
last generation knew how to keep business to themselves when it wanted
to.
Other things to look for leading to estate assets include: keys (especially
to safe deposit boxes), lock combinations, donation letters, and old address/phone
records. You get the idea.
Check the Closets
Seniors, like anyone else, sometimes forget what is in a coat pocket.
And, like anyone else, they may put an important document into a pocket
and forget it. Check the clothing-even the items in dry-cleaning bags-before
donating, or if "vintage," selling. (Some old 1950's dresses and suits
can bring a nice price in today's vintage clothing craze.)
Hire Someone to Clean The Kitchen and Bathrooms
Anyone can clean a kitchen, or a bathroom-and you are needed to sort out
the mail and important documents, old files, and junk in file cabinets
and closets. Plus, cleaning the kitchen of a sick or deceased loved one
is no fun at all because so many memories are made and found in the kitchen.
It's often a mess with shut-in people. Part of why someone can become
shut-in in the first place is his or her embarrassment in their surroundings
after they physically cannot keep up with the cleaning. Hire a maid service
and have them go from ceiling to baseboards. It saves time, stress, and
is worth the money spent.
Attacking the Garage
Be careful. You might want to use a "spider bomb" if it is a musty old
space before you start moving boxes and such around in there. You may
find memories, old tools, collectibles, and junk. Remember, "safety first":
If there is gasoline stored in the garage get rid of it first, and don't
put it in a car unless you want to gum up the gas line (it's "dead gas").
You'll have to call your city government and find their toxic waste recycling
facility. Do likewise with old paint, solvents, and the like. Do not let
them sit in the sun, while you clean, either. Sell the old tools-they're
also "vintage" now. Try Craig's List or eBay. You'll know what to do with
the rest of it…toss as much of the old stuff as you can. If you find vinyl
records they can be sold if they are in good shape, without scratches.
Beat-up vinyl doesn't sell to the collectors that hunt it. Comics, old
magazines, old advertisements-these things are considered "ephemera" to
collectors but it may not be worth your time to hassle with it all. If
it's really old, then perhaps you'll keep it.
Cleaning out an estate is a hard job, and a very important one. If your
loved one is still alive, he or she is going to need those assets you
find for their care. So don't worry too much about invading privacy, and
if you do find an old ghost be sure and consider if bringing it up is
a good idea before you do so. It was meant to remain a secret if you don't
already know, so honor those intentions. Once you've cleaned out an estate
you'll be thinking about renting it, selling it, and other options, too.
Let's just get the cleaning done for now and get past it. If everyone
affected pitches in to help it can be a bonding experience for the family,
and a whole lot easier to accomplish.
Find topic related books at: http://www.seniorresource.com/SRBaz.htm#books
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B. DID YOU KNOW...?
1. Disaster-Ready Phones
Unfortunately, as we move into the summer season various natural disasters
cannot be far behind. When such an event occurs, your phones are key elements
for your survival and recovery. Here are a few tips to assure you get
the most help from these electronics.
- Your cell phone provides you a high degree of mobility. However, it
does need to be charged or connected to a power source.
- Keep your cell phones fully charged;
- Have some extra batteries on hand;
- Know where your car adapter is so you can recharge from the car
battery;
- Assure phones batteries are kept in a cool place, in a waterproof
container or plastic bag;
- If evacuation is necessary, forward your landline to your call phone.
- Use your phone memory storage to its fullest. Load in numbers for
friends, emergency, services, relatives, and insurance contacts.
- Remember that landlines may work when your cell network is down. Of
course, landlines are subject to their own issues. Wind and rain may
disrupt their service. Be prepared to use both your cell phone and your
landline.
- In a disaster, the phone line will get tied up. Since the phone companies
have a higher capacity for text messages, using these as your communications
method may be an advantage.
See the Disaster Supply Checklist and supplies at http://www.seniorresource.com/srdisaster.htm
2. Motor Coaches to Bring Services Closer to Veterans
A fleet of 50 new mobile counseling centers for the Department of Veterans
Affairs (VA) Vet Center program has been put into service. Each vehicle
will be assigned to one of VA's existing Vet Centers, enabling the center
to improve access to counseling by bringing services closer to veterans.
The 38-foot motor coaches, which have spaces for confidential counseling,
will carry Vet Center counselors and outreach workers to events and activities
to reach veterans in broad geographic areas, supplementing VA's 232 current
Vet Centers, which are scheduled to increase to 271 facilities by the
end of 2009.
Vet Centers, operated by the VA's Readjustment Counseling Service, provide
non-medical readjustment counseling in easily accessible, consumer-oriented
facilities, addressing the social and economic dimensions of post-war
needs. This includes psychological counseling for traumatic military-related
experiences and family counseling when needed for the veteran's readjustment.
Additional health information may be found at: http://www.seniorresource.com/health.htm
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C. THOUGHTS FOR THE MONTH
We present here some words from those with a birthday this month.
Bill Haley - "The music is the main thing and it's just as easy
to write acceptable words."
Dalai Lama - "Our prime purpose in this life is to help others.
And if you can't help them, at least don't hurt them."
Della Reese - "Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow may be for us and it
may not."
Doc Severinsen - "Music and the arts are not just something to
make people feel good. They elevate the soul and broaden the entire
personality."
Sylvester Stallone - "I take rejection as someone blowing a bugle
in my ear to wake me up and get going, rather than retreat."
More "Thoughts" at: http://www.seniorresource.com/thought.htm
and get some music at http://www.seniorresource.com/SRBaz.htm#music
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D. SPECIAL SURFING SITES
1. Looking to Work From Home?
Here's your opportunity. Visit http://www.homejobstop.com/
and find telecommuting resources to help you work from home as a freelance
business. The site is completely free of commercial advertising. It includes
an active job bank, an online guidebook with hundreds of tips and techniques
that improve success rates, as well as email update reports and an optional
informative newsletter. This structure ensures quality information content
and numerous job opportunities.
Additional information on Positive Aging may be found at: http://www.seniorresource.com/ageproc.htm
2. Stop Drunk Driving
Drunk driving is one of America's deadliest problems. In 2007, 41,059
people were killed in motor vehicle crashes. There were 12,998 people
who were killed in traffic crashes that involved at least one driver or
motorcycle rider with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 or higher.
Too many people still fail to understand that alcohol and driving don't
mix. Impaired driving is no accident-nor is it a victimless crime.
Officers will be out in full force during the Fourth of July holiday
period, cracking down on drunk drivers with an aggressive enforcement
blitz.
Much of the tragedy from drunk driving can be prevented with a few simple
precautions before going out to celebrate:
- Plan a safe way home before the festivities begin;
- Before drinking, please designate a sober driver and give that person
your keys;
- If you're impaired, use a taxi, call a sober friend or family member,
or use public transportation so you are sure to get home safely;
- Use your community's Sober Rides program;
- If you happen to see a drunk driver on the road, don't hesitate to
contact your local law enforcement; -And remember, Friends Don't Let
Friends Drive Drunk.
- If you know someone who is about to drive while impaired or to ride
with a drunk driver, take the driver's keys and help them all make other
arrangements to get to where they are going safely.
To learn how to provide grassroots support for impaired-driving law enforcement
crackdown efforts visit: http://www.seniorresource.com/ageproc.htm#ddr
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E. OH MY AGING FUNNY BONE
Why, Why, Why
- Why is it that no matter what color bubble bath
you use the bubbles are always white?
- Is there ever a day that mattresses are not on
sale?
- Why do people constantly return to the refrigerator
with hopes that something new to eat will have materialized?
- Why do people keep running over a string a dozen
times with their vacuum cleaner, then reach down, pick it up, examine
it, then put it down to give the vacuum one more chance?
- Why is it that no plastic bag will open from the
end on your first try?
It Takes Teamwork
Two young women were working for the city's public works department. One
would dig a hole and the other would follow behind her and fill the hole
in. They worked up one side of the street, then down the other, then moved
on to the next street, working furiously all day without rest, one woman
digging a hole, the other filling it in again.
An onlooker was amazed at their hard work, but couldn't understand what
they were doing. So he asked the hole digger, "I'm impressed by the
effort you two are putting into your work, but I don't get it-why do you
dig a hole, only to have your partner follow behind and fill it up again?"
The hole-digger wiped her brow and sighed, "Well, I suppose it probably
looks odd because we're normally a three-person team. But today the lady
who plants the trees called in sick.
"Oh My Aging Funny Bone"
is at: http://www.seniorresource.com/jokes.htm
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This issue has been edited by Betsy Day (Betsyjday@aol.com).
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