In an effort to help people all over the country know about the groups that have sprung up to help people successfully stay in their homes as they age, I'm collecting information and posting descriptions of organizations dedicated to that cause.
Here is the first one:
The Dexter-Miller Community, Inc. located in Ann Arbor, Michigan, is a non-profit neighborhood services cooperative. Members are willing to exchange services with each other to simplify and enhance their quality of life. Members agree that every service exchanged in the community has equal value based solely on the time spent providing it and that everyone has something to offer. Membership will be limited to 50-100 households in Northwest Ann Arbor. When membership approaches 100 households we intend to split into two geographically more compact groups in order to keep management and contacts simple and local. There is a $15.00 initiation fee plus dues of $10.00 per year.
New members receive scrip worth 16 DEXMILS (DM). One DM is worth 15 minutes of service from another member or the loan of equipment for one hour. Each year upon renewal, members may request 8 more DM, if needed. Otherwise, DM are earned by providing services or equipment to other members. A Membership Directory lists services and equipment offered by each household. Those seeking services or equipment call or email a provider directly and arrange the exchange Professional Service contractors recommended by coop members are listed on our website with satisfaction ratings from community members. Combining work of professional contractors with other community members sometimes results in substantial discounts. More information is available at www.DEXMIL.com
Allan Feldt
alfeldt@umich.edu
Blog Topic: "Aging at Home" -- This blog provides information to help fiercely independent seniors to stay in their homes as long as they want. The national movement is called "Aging in Place." I was a founding member of the Board of Directors for At Home In Darien.
Showing posts with label Dexter-Miller Community. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Dexter-Miller Community. Show all posts
Aging in Place in Northwest Ann Arbor, MI
I put out a call to organizations nationwide that are helping people age in place to see if they would be willing to share their information on my blog. The first place I heard from was the Dexter-Miller Community in Ann Arbor, Michigan. They have a really cool model, similar to Community Without Walls in Princeton, NJ. Here is their flyer and website:
The Dexter-Miller Community, Ann Arbor, Michigan 8/11/2008
Mission
The Dexter-Miller Community (DEXMIL) is a non-profit neighborhood services cooperative, incorporated in Michigan in 2008. Members are willing to exchange services with each other to simplify and enhance their quality of life. Members agree that every service exchanged in the community has equal value based solely on the time spent providing it and that everyone has something to offer.
MembershipMembership is limited to 300 households in Northwest Ann Arbor. There is a $15.00 initiation fee plus dues of $12.00 per year. Each member’s name and contact information with services and equipment offered is listed in the DEXMIL Community Directory available only to other community members.
Accounting SystemMembers receive scrip worth 16 DEXMILS (DM) upon joining and earn more by providing services or lending equipment to others in the community. One DM equals fifteen minutes of service or one hour’s loan of equipment. Under special circumstances the Board of Directors may sell or grant additional DMs to specific households.ProcessA Directory listing the services and equipment offered by each household is updated periodically.
Members seeking services or equipment loans simply search the Directory for another household offering that service or equipment. They can then call or email a provider directly and arrange the exchange. Members may occasionally consult a member of the Board of Directors for help in finding or arranging exchanges.
Additionally, a list of Professional Service providers recommended by other coop members is maintained on our website together with contact information and satisfaction ratings from community members. Professional Service providers may be contacted directly but checking with a Director first may help to find a provider offering discounts for multiple jobs in our area over the same time period.
Services
Almost any type of service can be offered and exchanged but the following types have been identified as important to most members:
Home repairs Computer assistance
Lawn & garden care Equipment exchange
Vacation care for pets & plants House cleaning
Mending, tailoring, sewing Books/records exchange
Seasonal: Snow & leaf removal,
IRS forms etc. Driving
More Information View our website at: www.DEXMIL.com.
The Dexter-Miller Community, Ann Arbor, Michigan 8/11/2008
Mission
The Dexter-Miller Community (DEXMIL) is a non-profit neighborhood services cooperative, incorporated in Michigan in 2008. Members are willing to exchange services with each other to simplify and enhance their quality of life. Members agree that every service exchanged in the community has equal value based solely on the time spent providing it and that everyone has something to offer.
MembershipMembership is limited to 300 households in Northwest Ann Arbor. There is a $15.00 initiation fee plus dues of $12.00 per year. Each member’s name and contact information with services and equipment offered is listed in the DEXMIL Community Directory available only to other community members.
Accounting SystemMembers receive scrip worth 16 DEXMILS (DM) upon joining and earn more by providing services or lending equipment to others in the community. One DM equals fifteen minutes of service or one hour’s loan of equipment. Under special circumstances the Board of Directors may sell or grant additional DMs to specific households.ProcessA Directory listing the services and equipment offered by each household is updated periodically.
Members seeking services or equipment loans simply search the Directory for another household offering that service or equipment. They can then call or email a provider directly and arrange the exchange. Members may occasionally consult a member of the Board of Directors for help in finding or arranging exchanges.
Additionally, a list of Professional Service providers recommended by other coop members is maintained on our website together with contact information and satisfaction ratings from community members. Professional Service providers may be contacted directly but checking with a Director first may help to find a provider offering discounts for multiple jobs in our area over the same time period.
Services
Almost any type of service can be offered and exchanged but the following types have been identified as important to most members:
Home repairs Computer assistance
Lawn & garden care Equipment exchange
Vacation care for pets & plants House cleaning
Mending, tailoring, sewing Books/records exchange
Seasonal: Snow & leaf removal,
IRS forms etc. Driving
More Information View our website at: www.DEXMIL.com.
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