TOWNSHIP OF WASHINGTON—A non-profit organization that establishes virtual “villages” and provides resources and volunteers to help seniors age in place — in their homes and neighborhoods — is holding an information meeting on Sept. 28 from 5 to 7 p.m. at the public library.
Council member Daisy Velez, also the town’s public affairs director, said at the Sept. 6 council meeting that she is hoping to bring the “villages” initiative to town to help out local seniors and engage youth and older adults as volunteers to assist older residents.
She said that details will be posted on the township website. Attendees are required to register for the information session.
Kathy Kuzma, executive director of North Jersey Villages, and Eddie Wiener, a board member, made brief presentations at the Sept. 6 meeting.
“We are requesting your support for North Jersey Villages to explore this concept in township and throughout Bergen County,” Kuzma told the council. She said seniors staying “productively engaged” is beneficial to their overall health.
Kuzma, a township resident, said that North Jersey Villages serves 60-plus seniors who choose to age at home. “NJV’s mission is to engage those Bergen County seniors in developing local networks to make their choice to age at home safer and healthier as well as more feasible, affordable and enjoyable,” Kuzma said.
She said the North Jersey Villages organization was part of a nationwide Village-to-Village network that “promotes a virtual village model” that includes a “Village 101 Tool Kit” that serves as a “blueprint” to assist those seniors aging at home.
“This village is not a place, it’s a concept, an old fashioned ‘it takes a village’ concept of neighbors helping neighbors to age at home,” she said.
Kuzma said more than 300 villages have used the concept nationwide since 2001. She said villages help to fill “gaps” in local resources and services to help seniors age at home.
She said the villages do not duplicate existing social services but rather increase awareness of and access to those services. She said she first learned about the village’s concept for seniors in 2014 and wanted to bring it to Bergen County.
She said she was proud that the township had joined the “age-friendly North Jersey initiative that started in Westwood, Ridgewood, Garfield and Englewood. She said she worked on committees to improve seniors’ computer savvy, and transport and walkability options. She said she helped offer programs on senior scams and frauds, and advanced health care directives,
She praised Velez for recognizing that the age-friendly community initiative and villages concept “both improved the quality of life not only for seniors” but also “provided opportunities for residents of all ages and experience to be part of the village movement.”
She said municipal services such as police, fire, and ambulance, a seniors bus, Bethany Community Center, Knights of Columbus, and public library events help support seniors.
She said the village model encourages “identifying gaps” in services and activities for seniors. She said a survey being conducted by the age-friendly initiative will help identify such gaps.
She said filling gaps includes “seemingly trivial things” that seniors can no longer do for themselves at home, such as changing a light, a smoke alarm battery.
“Who can a senior aging at home call if they are sick and need someone to walk the dog, to put the garbage cans to the curb, to shovel snow or to rake the leaves so you don’t slip and fall?” Kuzma said.
She said other chores such as picking up groceries or medications and finding computer assistance to navigate online are needed by seniors. “Who does a senior call?” she asked, when a relative or support person is not available to assist.
She said the “village concept” provides an “organized support and outreach” to find another support person in the village you join to fill the gap. She said “filling the gap” isn’t just about what seniors need help with, but how seniors can fill the gap for others.
She said the village concept “builds up the self-esteem of older adults” by tapping into their skills and experience to build a network so that seniors can age at home.
Wiener said that villages are meeting “many needs” not met by most social agencies or insurance. He said the village concept “encourages visits to seniors” including social visits and online educational programs for seniors.
He said services include home safety assessments, non-medical assistance from retired nurses and health aides to seniors transitioning from hospital and rehab centers, “med pals” to accompany seniors to doctor appointments with seniors and take notes, and respite care for caregivers.
According to North Jersey Villages on its website, villages “are generally member-driven, non-profit, community-based networks that help provide independent living resources and referrals so older adults who choose to age in place can continue living vibrant and healthy lives in their homes and communities, even as they age and need more support services.”
The website adds most villages nationwide are self-governing 501(c)3 nonprofit membership organizations run by a board of directors elected by the village members.
They are supported by fees, grants, and fundraising.