Aging in Place
Delegate Kenneth R. "Ken" Plum
 
Supervisor Cathy Hudgins and her army of volunteers and partners are commended for the timely Aging in Place Forum held in Reston recently.  The 300-plus attendees attest to the importance of the topic to senior residents of the community and to other adults who are caring for aged parents.  Reston already has many resources for living, working, and playing that also support aging in place.  Some minimal organizational structure may make these resources more readily identifiable and accessible as well as make clear where there are gaps in service and unmet needs.
 
According to the Virginia Department of Aging, the population of the Commonwealth 60 years and over will grow from nearly 15 percent in 1990 to almost 25 percent by 2025 when there will be more than two million Virginians over age 60.  During the same period the number of Virginians age 85 and older will increase five times faster than the general population.  In the past, women have outnumbered older men by almost 42 percent, but by 2025 that number will be reduced to 18 percent.
 
Partners in Care (www.partnersincare.org) in Maryland uses a model similar to the Useful Service Exchange(USE) that was active in Reston for many years.  Partners in Care uses a concept of "time exchange" whereby volunteer members use their time and talents to help others and in exchange receive help when they need it.  As their website describes what they do, "We support aging in place by providing arm-in-arm rides, making handyman repairs to maintain homes, advocating for economic well-being, and a variety of other programs to support choice, independence, dignity, and meaningful volunteer engagement."  Burning Tree Village in Bethesda, Maryland, is another community that has organized a non-profit organization to help neighbors age in place (www.BurningTreeVillage.org).
 
Community Without Walls in Princeton, NJ, is an association whose purpose is to help people remain in their communities as they age (www.princetonol.com/groups/cww/).  CWW has broadened the definition of aging in place to include "the current residence and subsequently other residences in the community that may be appropriate to changing personal situations, such as shared housing, assisted living facilities, and continuing care retirement communities."
 
As one who plans to age in place in Reston, I welcome the farsighted and exciting work that is being done on this topic.  The opportunities that our community affords the promotion of this concept are numerous.  Although I was not able to take part in the first forum, I look forward to participating in future discussions and in helping make our community aging-friendly.  To become involved, visit http://aginginreston.blogspot.com.