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living in hillside homes bought when they were younger. Once their mobility is reduced, they can become isolated. You see people who are still smart as a whip, but they can’t participate in the outside world. So on our website, we’re offering different Neighbors pitch in to help seniors remain at home ways for people to connect.” For elders who are not computer savvy, she describes the Senior Center Without by Li n d a X i q u e s Walls, where shut-ins can phone in and be ometimes screwing in a light bulb is for information, such as, ‘I need a plumber, part of a conference call, chatting and havnot a simple thing. Suppose the light can you give me the name of a good one?’ ing discussions with other people while at fixture is on the ceiling and requires ‘I want a caretaker, whom should I call?’ So home. Marin Village will even help seniors a ladder to reach it. Suppose your sense of these kinds of contacts and phone num- get phones with larger buttons and amplibalance is not what it once was and the doc bers are a countywide function. And then fied sound to encourage such interaction. Burnett envisions book clubs, knitting says “no climbing.” Must you call an elec- we have the volunteer component because groups or other classes for active seniors trician to come to your house to change many of the things seniors need are not the a darned light bulb? kind of things you pay evolving in each community “village.” ExcurOr wait until your son for. Number one because sions to the symphony or to museums or arrives for a visit—at people can’t afford to other social events may be arranged. She Christmas? have someone come over expects every “village” group will come up These are the kind of to do one small thing. with its own unique offerings because each niggling, irritating choic...But seniors certainly Marin town is different. “What’s interesting es, multiplied over the can use the services of a to Sausalito might not be what Homestead years, that force seniors neighbor to walk your Valley would like,” she says. Betsy Stroman, a retired attorney who is to think about giving up dog if you’re not feeling heading up the Sausalito “village,” concurs. their homes for the conwell, or help you out with “We had a programs committee with lots venience of residential a small errand.” of ideas, but what we realized is this is not care. But independentAs for the volunteers, minded Marin elders she says, “We know that going to work as a top-down organization. now have another useful many people are quite We have to have events, classes, gatherings option to consider. willing to help out; they that the people who are members want. Officially launched just need a little structure In fact, we had two certified yoga teachers this month, an orgato do so. They don’t want who agreed to teach a free yoga class, but we nization called Marin to run around asking, found no one was interested in taking the Village is part of a na‘What do you need?’ ‘What class...At a recent ‘new members’ reception, tionwide movement to help older people can I do for you?’ And the seniors who do I chatted with people and the two things remain in their own homes as long as pos- need help, if they’ve asked a person more people were most interested in doing were sible. The idea started in the Beacon Hill than once, they get shy about asking again. a book group and a movie series. So we’ll area of Boston when neighbors began talk- They’re reluctant to impose. So we’re trying probably start those up in short order.” As of now, Stroing to each other about their desire to stay to set up a volunteer man says 38 houseput, while acknowledging that they’d need group in each town.” holds and 25 volunsome help in order to do so. A nonprofit Burnett sees Marin teers have signed up association known as Beacon Hill Village Village as a good way Burnett envisions book clubs, in Sausalito. They’re evolved from these beginnings. BHV mem- for adult children to having an official bers can call to get a volunteer to help them offer long-distance knitting groups or other classes “launch party” Oct. with simple chores or errands, or they can aid to their parents. for active seniors evolving in 28 at the Bay Model, get a list of screened service professionals With Marin Village each community “village.” 5-7pm, to introduce to perform more arduous repairs, often at membership, they Marin Village to more a discount. can quickly find help Sausalito residents Articles in the New York Times and the and advice when and recruit additional Wall Street Journal spread news of the Beacon problems arise. local members and volunteers. (Sausalito Hill experiment and inspired similar associaBurnett assures prospective members tions to spring up elsewhere. Loulie Sutro of that all service providers and volunteers residents should phone 415/332-1185 if Kentfield flew to Boston for a Beacon Hill Vil- will be screened before being sent out to they plan to attend.) Marin residents who are interested in lage seminar three years ago, and returned to help. “We do a background check and also promoting a “village” for their community drum up interest among her friends here. Jo a fingerprint scan. These are computerized Burnett of Tiburon is now the executive direc- record checks and we don’t retain the re- should check out the Marin Village webtor of Marin Village, a new countywide infor- ports in our office. All the information is site: www.marinvillage.org. All it takes mation center and administrative core for the completely confidential. We just want to are a few like-minded people to arrange auxiliary “village” groups that are forming in give our members real assurance that any- a planning meeting in someone’s home. the county. Sausalito’s “village” is already up one who comes to their home is trustwor- A representative from Marin Village will and running, and Homestead Valley, Tiburon thy. It’s the same background service that come to give an overview of the project. and Ross Valley are in the planning stages. Whistlestop uses for their volunteers.” (The There are also links on the website for serFor a $200 annual fee, members of Marin Marin Senior Coordinating Council, which vice professionals who wish to be on the Village can access reliable service informa- runs Whistlestop, serves as the fiscal spon- referral list, and of course, information for tion by phone or computer, or obtain the sor for Marin Village while its nonprofit signing up as a member or volunteer. ✹
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help of a neighborhood volunteer from the village organization in their community. Director Burnett explains the Marin Village concept: “We determined there is a real need
application is being processed.) Marin Village also has a social component to its services. “As you know,” says Burnett, we’ve got so many older people
Marin Village, 930 Tamalpais Ave., San Rafael; email info@marinvillage.com or phone:415/457-4633.
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