Northwood News ♦ December 2009

Senior-Friendly Communities

We’ve all heard the proverb, “It takes a village to raise a child.”  Well, it’s equally true that it takes a community’s united efforts to help senior citizens stay in their homes.  Capitol Hill Village is a neighborhood nonprofit which provides a mix of volunteer and contracted services to help elderly residents “age in place.”  Whether it’s help with yard work or a ride to the Doctor’s office, the needed support is available right in the neighborhood.  Like a co-op, members pool their funds to contract for services at reduced rates.  Also like a co-op, members of all ages volunteer time to reduce the need for hired help.

The January program of the Montgomery County Civic Federation will feature a representative from Capitol Hill Village to explain how this approach works.  There will also be a representative from a similar program that is getting underway in Montgomery County.  This is information that could change your future, or that of someone you love.

Civic Federation meetings are free and open to the public.  Meetings are held in the first floor auditorium of the County Council Building (100 Maryland Avenue, Rockville) at 7:45 p.m.  The December meeting, held on 14 December, will include a program on public libraries and the media.  The January meeting, with the senior-friendly community program, is scheduled for 11 January 2010.   ■