Watch.
Act!
We’re building a community, and here’s how to join — connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and LinkedIn.
We need you to “Like” our stories, comment on them and ReTweet them and encourage your friends to join the conversation too. Just click on the Toolbar below to easily access all these social tools.
We will follow you back on Twitter, listen to your comments and share your ideas. If you blog about Changing Aging, we’re working on creating a platform to build a community of ChangingAging bloggers. Make sure your blog is in our Google Reader Blogstream, and we will update you on our efforts.
If you’re a professional care giver, thought leader, advocate or elder willing to appear on livestreaming video, we would love to invite you to appear with Dr. Bill Thomas on RealCareNowTV. This is an ongoing conversation about aging and person-centered care sponsored by the Picker Institute. Contact us on Twitter @pickerreport or through the blog here.
Is there something else we can do I didn’t mention? Let us know by commenting below!
I remember when I found out about Changing Aging on the Internet as I was researching subjects that dealt with aging. I was so excited to find this, and all the other blogs, sites, etc., that deal with aging.
The reason for my excitement, as ChangingAging, was doing exactly what I was trying to do. In 2008, I lived in with an elder lady that needed round the clock care, and I supervised the caregivers. After she died, I realized how important it was to continue to do this again, so I searched for the perfect home to care for elders. After 3 months, I found that home. My intentions were to set up a Residential Assisted Living home for 3 elders. When I went before the board of Zoning to get a variance for this, to my shock and surprise, about 50 people from the neighborhood showed up to oppose my needed goal of caring for elders. The board denied my variance. Therefore, I hired an attorney, and sued the City. While this was in the court system, the HOA sued me, stating that I was breaking the covenants set up within the neighborhood. To make a long story short, the City agreed to give me the variance if I would drop my suit against them, as they realized they were in violations of FHAA, disability rights and elder rights. The neighborhood also dropped their suit against me, and sent out a newsletter that they were in violation of FHAA, and the HOA could be penalized for trying to stop me from opening up my home to care for elders. That caring for elders also applied to the covenants of single family homes.
It took 15 months for all this to finally be over, and depleted all my savings while fighting for this. I almost moved, as I was out of funds, but a call came in the beginning of Jan. to care for an elder man that has alzheimers and is diabetic. He will be moving into our home the beginning of Feb.
Even if this had not worked out due to loss of my savings, I still would have been proud, as I set presidency in the courts for others in my city, to not have to go through all the BS I went through, should they want to open up their hearts and home to care for elders.
I will also be emailing changingaging about ideas that I have discovered when caring for elders. One of the biggest tips I can give is the use of carpet tape on throw rugs and for other safety tips.
http://www.safehavenseniorfamilyhome.com/
Hi Dr Bill Thomas
I first heard of you and your work with Eden when I trained as an associate in 2006 and really fell in love with the Philosophy of Eden
I am working as a Diversional Therapist in a Residential Care Home in Geelong Australia.I had studied Philosophy for some 6 years before I was requested to set up Lifestyle/ Activities at a new home in Geelong.I consulted with the residents and found out what they wanted – then the residents went to lunch.I sat in their seats and asked myself – If I was a resident how would I like ths to be run – the answer was ‘Like a resort and residents would be encouragaed to participate in activities but also supported in their choice of wahatever they liked.So happy to report out Home is just beautiful and residents are finding “new careers’ when they come in e.g. an 88 year old lady never realised she had a voice until she was invited to join the resident choir – choir mistress also a resident. Our home now has become known for our ‘out there’ activities and our very friendly residents/staff. We give our residents a ‘shot of self esteem’ during our activities full of variety and spondanatity. This makes for a happy work environment for our 90 residents 80 staff
I just sat down to read “The Senior Co-Housing Handbook.” What a surprise (but not a surprise, if you know what I mean) to see your prologue on real wealth and social capital. My long-term goal is to combine Mother Theresa and Co-Housing, by seeding co-housing communities in third world countries, starting in India, where low income westerners can have a better quality of life and use their leisure to offer service to uplift the native population. My organization is SAGES – Senior Adults Giving Enlightened Service. I am always looking for others to join this movement. Thanks.
Joanna Brandt
http://www.sagesinstitute.wordpress.com
Thought I would let you know what I am doing here in Michigan to aid in awareness of aging in a positive way. I write a monthly column for the Jackson Citizen Patriot which is also run on line at the MLive.com website. MLive hosts several Michigan newspapers in e-version, so the column gets a much wider readership than just the metro Jackson area. The column is called “Ask About Aging” and runs all kinds of aging related topics in a fresh and positive manner. Readership is growing and the column is beginning to be impactful in our area.
I am a volunteer guardian for an individual in an ECF. My goal: to advocate for her so that she may have the best quality of life possible in the institutional setting. What I hope for the future is that small communities such as I live in will find and way, and fund a way to shelter our fragile elders in small home(s) and provide local centers where a lap pool for exercise, tai chi, sessions on healthy aging issues can be provided without having to drive to the next bigger town to access such services. The way it is now the bigger centers have a pipeline to funding, Fed. and other requiring transportation and housing out of the community we live in.