A Word From The Publisher

Once in a while we hear of an idea that is so obviously a good one, we wonder why no one thought of it before. In the August 14th issue of the New York Times, an article entitled "A Grass-Roots Effort To Grow Old At Home" contained just such an idea.

As we all know, many older people are forced from their homes when the burdens of home ownership become difficult, or when they become isolated at home due to difficulty driving, particularly in snowy climates.

While assisted living can be a wonderful answer to many, there are also many older people who want to remain in their homes, or who cannot afford the high monthly fees of assisted living communities. For those people, there is a new idea that is so simple it's brilliant.

Some communities have banded together and formed nonprofit corporations whose sole purpose is to provide services that the elderly need. Those services can range from transportation to stores and appointments to providing screened handymen to make household repairs. Help can also be had for cooking, and keeping up with paperwork. Members of the "villages" pay annual dues that, according to the story, run from around $400 to $1000, depending on services offered.

The Times article commented, "So far, most of the villages are in places where residents are well connected and skilled in finance, law, medicine and philanthropy as a result of their own careers. That raises the question of whether the model is viable only in neighborhoods of privilege."

Does anyone else see the possibilities of this idea for Garden City?

Meg Morgan Norris

Publisher