It Takes a Village to Age in Place

 

On September 17th, 2014, Community Ministries of Rockville hosted a meeting to discuss possible models for aging-in-place in Rockville that might facilitate stronger social connections in neighborhoods, support neighbors helping neighbors programs, and help seniors access the wide range of services provided by the city and other local providers. The main vision of this group is to reach out to all seniors who live in the city regardless of ethnicity, economic status or religious affiliation.

 

That first meeting was attended by representatives from city and county agencies, City Council members, the Rockville Senior Center, senior services companies, Community Ministries of Rockville’s Elderly Ministries program as well as Rockville residents from Fallsmead, Croydon Park, East Rockville and FELD?.  Pazit Aviv, the Village Coordinator for Montgomery County, and a resource on Village issues was on hand, to advise and educate attendees.

 

Since then, the Rockville Villages Advisory Committee has met regularly continuing to learn about the village movement, hear presentations from villages in Montgomery County and work to define the best support system for village formation.

 

In October 2015 we held our first outreach event, attended by over 130 citizens and city government representatives to hear first-hand what Rockville citizens need in order to age in place in their homes.  Since that event several neighborhoods have started working toward forming a village and the city is considering a Villages Facilitator position to support those efforts.

 

The Rockville Village Concept Advisory Committee is open to anyone involved with or interested in the aging-in-place movement.  Currently, the committee includes representatives from City and County, the City Council, Rockville Senior Center, professionals working directly with seniors in the community, senior services companies, Community Ministries of Rockville’s Elderly Ministries program as well as Rockville residents interested in forming a village.  

 

We’re already planning our next outreach event for next October!