August 2008
Best aging in place communities
New alliances help seniors avoid assisted living
STAYING PUT Charlotte and David Brown, both 88 and retired physicians, helped found an aging-in-place community in New Canaan, Conn.
Nine out of 10 Americans older than 50 want to stay in their own homes as they age, AARP statistics show. That desire, coupled
with the increasing difficulty of tasks such as home repairs and driving, has led a growing number of older adults to form
"aging in place" communities: groups of like-minded neighbors who pool resources and expertise to help one another stay more
safely in their homes.
In general, such communities provide a combination of social support, health and wellness programs, and home-maintenance assistance. Some, such as Community Without Walls in Princeton, N.J., have low fees and offer mainly social interaction plus limited help with transportation and meals. Others cost more and offer a fuller menu of services from volunteers and vetted local vendors.
"Different models will work for different communities," says Gail Kohn, executive director of the 212-member Capitol Hill Village in Washington, D.C.. There, $500 per year for an individual ($750 for a household) buys access, via phone or e-mail, to services including transportation to and from appointments, simple home repairs, help with computer problems, meal preparation, and gardening, for example. Subsidized memberships are available for lower-income applicants. When no volunteer is available, members can use screened service professionals, often for a discount. Members who live alone can sign up for "check in" calls from a peer. Cultural events offer stimulation and company.
Annual fees for the fullest-service communities can run as high as $900 per household, not inexpensive but nowhere near the cost of assisted living. The price of the best aging in place communities might be worth paying for someone who wants the comforts of home and the reassurance that help, whether it's changing a lightbulb or coping with an injury, is a phone call or e-mail away.
What you can do
Find out about starting a group where you live by going to the Web sites of existing communities. Try those mentioned above or check out Beacon Hill Village in Boston (by phone at 617-723-9713), the blueprint for many such communities. The Center for Aging in Place Support, based in Westchester County, N.Y., provides links to existing groups.
For help with home safety modifications, see the AARPs home-design hub.
In general, such communities provide a combination of social support, health and wellness programs, and home-maintenance assistance. Some, such as Community Without Walls in Princeton, N.J., have low fees and offer mainly social interaction plus limited help with transportation and meals. Others cost more and offer a fuller menu of services from volunteers and vetted local vendors.
"Different models will work for different communities," says Gail Kohn, executive director of the 212-member Capitol Hill Village in Washington, D.C.. There, $500 per year for an individual ($750 for a household) buys access, via phone or e-mail, to services including transportation to and from appointments, simple home repairs, help with computer problems, meal preparation, and gardening, for example. Subsidized memberships are available for lower-income applicants. When no volunteer is available, members can use screened service professionals, often for a discount. Members who live alone can sign up for "check in" calls from a peer. Cultural events offer stimulation and company.
Annual fees for the fullest-service communities can run as high as $900 per household, not inexpensive but nowhere near the cost of assisted living. The price of the best aging in place communities might be worth paying for someone who wants the comforts of home and the reassurance that help, whether it's changing a lightbulb or coping with an injury, is a phone call or e-mail away.
What you can do
Find out about starting a group where you live by going to the Web sites of existing communities. Try those mentioned above or check out Beacon Hill Village in Boston (by phone at 617-723-9713), the blueprint for many such communities. The Center for Aging in Place Support, based in Westchester County, N.Y., provides links to existing groups.
For help with home safety modifications, see the AARPs home-design hub.
