Communities offer support to ‘age in place’
Aging in place is on the rise in many parts of the countries. Ones with children who may live a state or two away are finding it easier to age in place when a community rallies around them. Communities such as the one mentioned in the article below have proven that aging in place has been beneficial especially when their communities play an active role. Regardless of if you have a loved one that is aging or not, we encourage you to support those in your community who are aging through a simple smile, a grocery store run or stopping in just to say “hi!” This Jewish community has gone above and beyond to serve those aging around them. Whether it is big or small, we encourage you to take an active role of those aging in place!
Communities offer support to ‘age in place’
Written by: MICHELE ALPERIN
For many Jewish organizations, it has become clear that older adults are happier if they can live independently and “age in place,” in their own homes rather than in nursing homes.
“It has been a longstanding priority of Jewish federations and affiliated agencies to encourage aging in place, the feeling being that when older adults age in place, as distinct from being in an institution, they are able to live healthier and fuller lives,” says William Daroff, senior vice president of public policy and director of the Washington Office of the Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA).
It is also more cost-effective to age in place because medical costs skyrocket for seniors who move to nursing homes or other facilities, Daroff explains.
Social isolation is a concern of aging in many living situations, whether an elderly person is living alone or is no longer part of his or her community of choice. One initiative addressing this problem is the Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities (NORC) program, based on the JDC-ESHEL program, which has been working with the elderly in Israel since 1969.
A group of Jewish federations started NORCs in response to a federal initiative to develop replicable models to deal with the coming increase in the senior population. While neighborhoods and apartment buildings transition from younger families with children to a preponderance of residents in their 70s and 80s, seniors begin to need outside help to stay in their homes.
“The idea behind NORCs is rather than remove them from that building or neighborhood, you bring the services to them,” says Daroff.
Karen Berry-Elbert manages St. Louis NORC, which launched in 2002 in a neighborhood with 4,300 total residents, including 1,300 who were 65 and older. The NORC’s two foundational premises are socialization and health and wellness. Reflecting research that says socializing is one of the keys to good health, all NORC bus trips into the community end with a meal together.