Click here to download a copy of the Village Blueprint.
(Silver Spring, Maryland – April 12, 2011)
Montgomery County’s “Village Blueprint,” a step-by-step guide created to support communities within the county and throughout the region that want to start a senior Village organization in their neighborhood, is now available at all of the County’s public library branches. Senior “Villages” provide grassroots services to combat social isolation, improve mobility and enhance access to services for seniors.
The blueprint, first released in September 2010, was produced in partnership with Family & Nursing Care, a local resource for private duty home care since 1968.
Villages are a national movement that began in Beacon Hill, Massachusetts. A Senior Village is a grass roots organization created to provide older adults with lifestyle choices that include continuing to live in their own homes.
“Villages provide critical neighbor-to-neighbor connections to combat social isolation, improve mobility and access to services, and provide knowledge and support necessary to empower residents to be healthy and secure,” said County Executive Isiah Leggett. “Partnering with Family & Nursing Care has allowed us to get the tools to start a Village out to a wider audience.”
According to an AARP study, nearly 90 percent of adults 50 and older want to stay in their current home and community as they age. The Village movement is a nationwide initiative to support “aging in place.” County Executive Ike Leggett has been actively engaged in and committed to supporting the growth of Villages in Montgomery County.
“For the past 43 years, Family & Nursing Care has been helping Montgomery County residents remain independent and age in the comfort of their own homes,” said Neal Kursban, president, Family & Nursing Care. “We fully support the County’s efforts to encourage aging in place, and are glad that we can partner with Montgomery County to help so many older adults fulfill their wishes to continue to live independently in their own homes.”
The Village Blueprint is a “how-to” manual on starting, organizing, administering and sustaining a Village. In addition to public ibraries, copies of the Blueprint will be available at the County’s five regional service centers. For an electronic copy, go to www.montgomerycountymd.gov/bcc and click on the link for “Senior Information.”
The Village Blueprint project was spearheaded by Bethesda-Chevy Chase Regional Services Center Director Ken Hartman and was written by Leslie Marks, co-chair of the County’s Vital Living Committee.
About Family & Nursing Care
Family & Nursing Care, family owned and operated since 1968, has long been recognized as the area’s leading and most highly regarded resource for private duty home care. We specialize in helping families maintain a balanced lifestyle by referring experienced caregivers who provide a range of personalized services that meet the individual needs of each client. Our hallmark is finding that special match between each client and caregiver. Service is provided in Maryland (ALL of Montgomery and Prince George’s counties) and Washington, DC.