Joining a neighborhood "New Retirees Club"?
Many folks who have moved to a new town have joined a Newcomers Club. This is a fairly informal organization that provides a structure for meeting other people that also are new to an area.
That same informal structure can work for seniors. Why not a New Retirees Club composed of people that have truly stopped working and are trying to adjust to this new senior lifestyle? Such a group could -
- pick a particular neighborhood or area on which to focus,
- publicize their existence through the Internet, local libraries and newspapers, and
- create a social network that could provide support to its members
Initially, the focus of such a group would primarily be social in nature. But as seniors in their 60’s and 70’s progress to elders in their 80’s and 90’s, more formal arrangements might be established. As a group, their purchasing power would exceed that of any individual. Pooling that power, they could retain the services of a social worker as well as a nurse to provide in-home services. These services could expand to include -
- Coordination Center - to answer any question and arrange services
- Daily phone calls - to monitor status
- Home Maintenance - repair, revisions, cleaning
- Local Transport - groceries, errands, appointments
- Meals - home delivery, dining groups
- Office - bill paying, computer problem solving
- Volunteer - opportunities with the group or in the area
- Exercise programs - group walks, sessions at local facilities
- Cultural - theater & museum trips
- Educational - classes at local organizations
- Assisted living - care offered in your home
- Nursing care - short term care arranged
Such a neighborhood network can permit people to stay in their homes and maintain their independence well beyond the norm. Aging can be celebrated as a shared adventure rather than feared in isolation.
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