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Independent Living, With a Little Help from Your Friends

Published 9 years ago9y ago • Bookmarks: 45

September 3, 2015

| by Bruce Campbell |

A local group of volunteers is stepping forward with a solution to the conundrum of aging while wanting to live on your own but not quite being able to do everything that living alone requires. This issue is gaining importance as more and more baby boomers consider what senior living could entail. Recent surveys have shown that 90% of people over 50 want to grow old in their own homes and communities.

“Aging in place” is seen as a difficult and emotional problem, pitting freedom and independence against diminished physical ability and, in some cases, safety. To deal with these issues, volunteers last year formed ITAV10591, short for “It Takes A Village,” plus the local zip code. This new organization has taken on the challenge of helping the elderly manage day to day as well as stay connected with others in the community.

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“ITAV is not assisted living, it is living assistance,” as Vice Chair Barbara Carr describes it. She said the ITAV mission is to provide support and services to seniors so they can “remain independent, connected and contributing to our community.”

The idea of being connected to the community is behind two big ITAV events this month. On September 20, the project will host the 2nd annual “Soup Soiree” at the Kathryn W. Davis RiverWalk Center in Kingsland Point Park. Last year’s inaugural soiree was a huge success. Attendees will enjoy the best in local, homemade soups and engaging chats with neighbors. Everyone is welcome from 4:30 to 6 p.m.

On September 27, a group of New York actresses will perform a 2 p.m. reading of Nora and Delia Ephron’s play, Love, Loss and What I Wore, at Warner Library. The show weaves together 28 stories that illuminate the identity of women in which clothing becomes a metaphor for women’s experiences. (visit www.thehudsonindependent.com to read more about ITAV.)