Our church (The First Congregational Church of Darien) is starting a "buddy list" for seniors, so that we can help each other in times of need and just sort of keep tabs on each other.
The Community Fund of Darien is going to hold a Senior Summit on September 28. The idea is to get all the agencies and for-profits who serve seniors in our area together. We'll discuss what we all do and discover where we have gaps in service. We'll explore needs, too.
Contact the Community Fund of Darien, if you want to come.
http://www.communityfunddarien.org/. Here's the invitation;
The Aging in Place Committee
of The Community Fund of Darien
invites you to its
SUMMIT ON SENIOR ISSUES
For Senior Service Providers
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2007
1:00 pm to 4:00 pm
DARIEN COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION
274 Middlesex Avenue, Darien
Introductory remarks by Diana Kalman,
Chairman of the American Federation for Aging Research
Presentation by the Aging in Place Committee
Break-out groups to discuss identified issues –
transportation, communication/isolation, handyman/vetted services –
and begin to develop solutions
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This summit will bring together professionals from both not-for-profit and for-profit organizations and companies for an afternoon dedicated to problem-solving about how to help our seniors live comfortably and safely in their homes.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Please complete the enclosed form for each person who will be attending and return to: The Community Fund of Darien, P.O. Box 926, 701 Post Road, Darien, CT 06820.
For more information, please contact Kiki Karpen, Executive Director at kiki.karpen@communityfunddarien.org or call 655-8775
Progress on Aging in Place
I haven't written for awhile. But we now have an active list of Handymen for our Handyman Corps. AND we have people calling for help within our church family (First Congregational Church of Darien).
On the town front -- our Aging in Place with Grace committee is learning much more and starting to get volunteers to start a town-wide handyman corps, run out of the Darien Community Association.
The Darien Times has posted a list online of services that help seniors in our area.
http://www.acorn-online.com/news/publish/darien-answerbook/Darien_Answer_Book_Senior_Citizens_1168.shtml
And Darien Social Services has published a booklet, called The Senior Services Directory, which lists 100 agencies in our area that help seniors. Learn more by clicking on the Social Services link on the Darien Town Web site: http://www.darienct.gov/. That site also has access to the directory.
That's all for now.
On the town front -- our Aging in Place with Grace committee is learning much more and starting to get volunteers to start a town-wide handyman corps, run out of the Darien Community Association.
The Darien Times has posted a list online of services that help seniors in our area.
http://www.acorn-online.com/news/publish/darien-answerbook/Darien_Answer_Book_Senior_Citizens_1168.shtml
And Darien Social Services has published a booklet, called The Senior Services Directory, which lists 100 agencies in our area that help seniors. Learn more by clicking on the Social Services link on the Darien Town Web site: http://www.darienct.gov/. That site also has access to the directory.
That's all for now.
Aging In Place in the News
In the past two weeks, community help for people who are aging has been in the news. Two weeks ago, the Darien Times ran a piece by Kathy Lake on the needs of our town's aging population. Last week the paper ran an opinion piece by me on the Aging in Place initiatives of the Human Services Planning Council and The First Congregational Church of Darien. These articles have gotten a response. Older people who are complete strangers to me have called or emailed to tell me that they didn't know that local services exist to help the elderly. It just shows that communication needs improvement -- and that people do need help. You can contact me at steppingback@yahoo.com. That's my newspaper column email address.
On Sunday, the Stamford Advocate ran an article on Stamford Senior Services. This article (see link below) clearly showed all the services that an organization can supply. I'm going to talk to them to see what I can learn. http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/features/lifestyle/inthecommunity/scn-sa-sofia1mar25,0,4970867.story?coll=inthecommunity-headlines
On Sunday, the Stamford Advocate ran an article on Stamford Senior Services. This article (see link below) clearly showed all the services that an organization can supply. I'm going to talk to them to see what I can learn. http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/features/lifestyle/inthecommunity/scn-sa-sofia1mar25,0,4970867.story?coll=inthecommunity-headlines
Handyman Services
What services do people need to help them age at home? In our research, handyman services and transportation topped the list.
Yesterday, we met the founder of Handy Dandy Handyman Service, Peter Brady. HDHM is a nonprofit right here in Connecticut. They do chores and provide handyman services to people for free. They rake leaves, fix roofs, change lightbulbs, paint.... You name it; they do it. They help the shut-ins, the needy and people who just aren't able to do these things themselves or have trouble finding help or hiring help. In the end, lots of folks wind up giving the organization a donation because they are so grateful.
Visit their Web site to learn more at: http://www.hdhm.org/. Peter started this organization to give back to his community and to God. What he and his volunteers have accomplished in seven years is truly amazing and is a model we are looking at closely. Stay tuned for more information about our quest to help people Age In Place -- Age with Grace.
Yesterday, we met the founder of Handy Dandy Handyman Service, Peter Brady. HDHM is a nonprofit right here in Connecticut. They do chores and provide handyman services to people for free. They rake leaves, fix roofs, change lightbulbs, paint.... You name it; they do it. They help the shut-ins, the needy and people who just aren't able to do these things themselves or have trouble finding help or hiring help. In the end, lots of folks wind up giving the organization a donation because they are so grateful.
Visit their Web site to learn more at: http://www.hdhm.org/. Peter started this organization to give back to his community and to God. What he and his volunteers have accomplished in seven years is truly amazing and is a model we are looking at closely. Stay tuned for more information about our quest to help people Age In Place -- Age with Grace.
what research reveals
We conducted focus groups with older Darien residents. Here's what we found:
· Virtually all people interviewed want to stay in their homes – or at least in Darien.
· Many complained that Darien offers limited ways to downsize but stay in town. They want smaller, senior-friendly housing without having to leave the town they love and their friends. They mentioned the need for more condos and rental apartments.
· They are all independent-minded and do not want to ask for help or feel that they need help. When they get help, they feel guilty about receiving it.
· Most want to help others and are vibrant people who want to learn and volunteer.
· However, they are concerned about those who cannot take care of themselves.
· They’d like to learn more about what available to help them but don’t want to be “sold”.
· They love the elements of the community that make up their individual support network -- their friends, their churches, the DCA, the Senior Center, and being near family.
· They love the library, the beach, Long Island Sound, being near NYC and other stimulating and cultural places, the suburban feel and look of Darien.
They cited the following issues as obstacles to staying in their homes as they age:
· Increasing taxes and cost of living
· Home maintenance issues – from getting small handyman-type jobs done, to getting garbage to the dump, to getting leaves raked.
o They want “affordable”, reliable, responsive, trustworthy service
· Transportation – getting to the store, to doctors or to therapy (Gallivant and Red Cross both have limitations.)
· Fear of isolation (“What if no one knew my helper hadn’t arrived?”)
· Communication – lack of awareness of what is available.
These findings reaffirmed many issues raised in a 1999 survey among seniors in Darien.
So, we're going to explore the following:
· Research what other communities have done and are doing to address these issues. Do not “reinvent the wheel”, but look for a model that could work in Darien.
· Start small and grow a grassroots effort to address problems. For example:
o Handyman volunteers and/or a list of “vetted” service providers
o Expand Gallivant or start an independent transportation system.
· Create a better, cohesive plan for getting the word out about what exists to help seniors in Darien and our area.
· Continue to reach out to seniors and engage them in conversation as to how they can help each other through a volunteer network.
· Virtually all people interviewed want to stay in their homes – or at least in Darien.
· Many complained that Darien offers limited ways to downsize but stay in town. They want smaller, senior-friendly housing without having to leave the town they love and their friends. They mentioned the need for more condos and rental apartments.
· They are all independent-minded and do not want to ask for help or feel that they need help. When they get help, they feel guilty about receiving it.
· Most want to help others and are vibrant people who want to learn and volunteer.
· However, they are concerned about those who cannot take care of themselves.
· They’d like to learn more about what available to help them but don’t want to be “sold”.
· They love the elements of the community that make up their individual support network -- their friends, their churches, the DCA, the Senior Center, and being near family.
· They love the library, the beach, Long Island Sound, being near NYC and other stimulating and cultural places, the suburban feel and look of Darien.
They cited the following issues as obstacles to staying in their homes as they age:
· Increasing taxes and cost of living
· Home maintenance issues – from getting small handyman-type jobs done, to getting garbage to the dump, to getting leaves raked.
o They want “affordable”, reliable, responsive, trustworthy service
· Transportation – getting to the store, to doctors or to therapy (Gallivant and Red Cross both have limitations.)
· Fear of isolation (“What if no one knew my helper hadn’t arrived?”)
· Communication – lack of awareness of what is available.
These findings reaffirmed many issues raised in a 1999 survey among seniors in Darien.
So, we're going to explore the following:
· Research what other communities have done and are doing to address these issues. Do not “reinvent the wheel”, but look for a model that could work in Darien.
· Start small and grow a grassroots effort to address problems. For example:
o Handyman volunteers and/or a list of “vetted” service providers
o Expand Gallivant or start an independent transportation system.
· Create a better, cohesive plan for getting the word out about what exists to help seniors in Darien and our area.
· Continue to reach out to seniors and engage them in conversation as to how they can help each other through a volunteer network.
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