Here in Austin and all over the country, Retirees are better able to “age-in-place” due to technology which connects them with helpers. While many seniors move to senior living communities to simply their lifestyle and always have helper around, some prefer to stay in their homes but don’t wish to or cannot afford to ask for help, including transportation.
A Virtual Village consists of members and also volunteers who can help members with tasks, such as yard work and also transportation or small errands. The Village also helps seniors who are aging in place to connect with their community and stay active.
The Village to Village Network helps to manage these virtual villages all over the country. Here’s what they say about the importance of their work:
Villages are well positioned to improve the population health of the communities they serve. Until the year 2029, 10,000 people will turn 65 on a daily basis. In Britain and the United States, roughly one in three people older than 65 live alone, and in the United States, half of those older than 85 live alone….Village members experience reduced isolation, increased independence, and enhanced purpose of life.
We encourage all seniors to seek out “villages” and reap the emotional, mental, and physical benefits.