--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Downtown Silver Spring Senior Village makes progress to meet local needs
Downtown Silver
Spring Senior Village (DSSSV) is
a new nonprofit organization devoted to helping people remain confidently in
their own homes as they age. The primary service area is zip code 20910.
DSSSV
will organize volunteers, public and commercial resources, and professionals to
provide a variety of services to "villagers" who need them. Villagers
will pay an annual fee to help cover the costs of operation and programs. We
plan to start enrolling members and volunteers in mid-2013.
DSSSV is part of a national trend
Currently, 89
villages are operating across the country, in Canada, Australia and the Netherlands, with
another 123 villages in development.
DSSSV
is actively involved with the Washington
Area Village Exchange and the Village- to-Village
Network, a
national peer-to-peer network to help establish and continuously improve
management of villages. A couple of DSSSV representatives will be attending the
4th Annual National Village Gathering this fall to learn how other
villages are achieving success.
DSSSV accomplishes steps toward becoming official
DSSSV
has developed bylaws and been incorporated as a nonprofit in Maryland. We are working on
our 501(c)(3) application for tax-exempt status.
Villages are prominent in the news
A
recent article in The
Washington Post was titled "'Village'
groups, home alterations help more elderly people keep the homes they
love" featured the accomplishments of villages in helping older adults live
independently in their own homes.
A new
book by former HUD Secretary Henry Cisneros, "Independent
for Life: Homes and Neighborhoods for an Aging America,"
discusses aging in place. There are references to the role of villages. A review of the book
appeared in The Washington Post.
What are the needs of seniors in Silver Spring?
DSSSV
is conducting a survey to identify the services most needed by older adults in Silver
Spring. Please complete the survey and we'll
publish the results.
Research supports importance of villages
A research study, "The
'Village' Model: A Consumer-Driven Approach for Aging in Place," was
published in a recent issue of The Gerontologist.
The study, based on surveys of villages, noted, "the Village
model represents an innovative and potentially promising approach for
supporting aging in place among older adults, especially for middle-income
seniors who often fall outside the purview of shrinking public programs."
The study pointed out that villages are focusing on membership recruitment and
financial growth.
DSSSV is a "player" in our community
- DSSSV has held outreach events for six local civic associations and several other information sessions. More events are planned.
- DSSSV is collaborating with Seabury Care Management on an event titled The Ethics of Aging in Place, to be offered on Friday, September 21. Social workers may obtain continuing education credit.
- We're collaborating with Silver Spring Town Center, Inc. on a six-part series on Health and Wellness, Work and Finance, and Technology for seniors to start in October.
- DSSSV will have a booth at the Fenton Street Market on Saturday, October 27.
The DSSSV website keeps the
community informed about our progress in helping older adults remain
independent. If you have not already done so, please take a minute to
complete our interest
form.
YOU can help "grow" our Village
A
robust Planning Group and other volunteers are actively working to establish
DSSSV and begin providing services in 2013. You can help, too, even if you are only
available for several hours per month.
- We have identified some potential funding sources. We are now in need of experienced fundraisers and grant writers.
- We need help in organizing, promoting and staffing events and workshops.
- We are seeking people to hold events in their homes to introduce their friends and neighbors to DSSSV.
- Someone with bookkeeping and accounting skills is needed to help with setting up systems for planning and managing finances.
Martine Brizius and Roberta Gosier
Co-Chairs, DSSSV Planning Group
(301) 503-7401
No comments:
Post a Comment