a formal Community "village" here

[iris lilies]

All of you alternative lifestylers hippy-commune lovers will probably wax eloquent about this movement:

http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/metro/older-adults-in-central-west-end-building-a-village/article_95984ef9-7dbf-5395-a0ef-d798fc85981a.html

It's a formal movement that has as its goal keeping elderly in their existing homes.

I skimmed the article and from what I can tell each household pays $600 annually to belong to The Village. Not sure exactly what The Village does for you. Hooks you up with teens who mow your lawn? But others here will, no doubt, be able to elaborate on that. This is happening in a very cool part of our city where I would like to live, so for that reason I can see staying there. But this part of our city is like Little New York: there are many pre-war fabulous apartment buildings (where no yard or building maintenance is needed) and otherwise, the houses are huge. My point is: there is already alternative housing for downsizers.

This this movement better belongs in MY neighborhood because there are many senior citizens who have to leave their giant house, and there are very very few alternatives here, and they want to stay in the neighborhood. Right now the choices are condos that cost $365,000+. Not reasonable for most people.

[JaneV2.0]

I know Portland has a "village." Not sure about Seattle. I would be very happy to hook up with a group like this as I age and I'm the farthest thing from a commune type.

[catherine]

Not a bad idea! I love the idea of neighborhoods designed to break down social isolation. Coincidentally I just read this article this morning:

http://www.yesmagazine.org/happiness/how-to-design-our-neighborhoods-for-happiness

I personally like the idea of keeping these types of "villages" multi-generational however. The 55+ "adult communities" have never appealed to me. I want kids coming to my door on Halloween, and I love seeing a turnover of young families moving in to my neighborhood.

Perhaps if I need a higher level of personal service someday I'll reconsider, but right now, I'm happy sitting in my back yard and pitching back errant baseballs to the kids playing in the field behind my house.

[JaneV2.0]

The idea is that it's neighborhood-based and aims to keep elders out of communal captivity like assisted living.

[catherine]

The idea is that it's neighborhood-based and aims to keep elders out of communal captivity like assisted living.

Well, I'm certainly all for that.

[pinkytoe]

I received a card in the mail today for our local Village. I too was trying to figure out exactly what the $600 goes towards - looks like lots of planned social events, discounts on providers like electircians and help from volunteers as needed. It strikes me as something geared towards those with higher incomes, ie not livng on social security, etc.

[iris lilies]

I received a card in the mail today for our local Village. I too was trying to figure out exactly what the $600 goes towards - looks like lots of planned social events, discounts on providers like electircians and help from volunteers as needed. It strikes me as something geared towards those with higher incomes, ie not livng on social security, etc.

Note that one of these organizations named in my local newspapers had 3 employees. I suspect that's a big part of the game--creating a job for social workers.

[Zoebird]

I think I read about one in boston, and part of what they were trying to create was a sort of assisted living environment without having to leave their homes. I thought this was a good idea.

[Tussiemussies]

What a great project. I never want to leave my home and would be thrilled if I couldn't manage everything, that I would be helped. Love it!