Council Listening to Older Residents, Passes Funding for Aging in Place
Yesterday,
Columbus City Council unanimously passed ordinances 1288-2017 and 1287-2017,
both of which were initiated by Councilmember Michael Stinziano, to support the operation of
two senior service organizations participating in the nationally recognized
Village Movement.
South
Columbus-based Village Connections and Clintonville-Beechwold Community
Resources Center, Village in the Ville programs will both benefit from $10,000
of grant funding to assist 50 and older residents to remain in their homes and
as active citizens in The City of Columbus.
“We
know from the Age-Friendly Columbus survey that our older residents want to age
in their homes. As Columbus’ older adult population continues to grow, we as a
community need to think of creative ways to support lifestyles and needs of
older adults—Columbus’ villages are doing just that,” said Stinziano.
The
Village Movement works not only to ensure that older adults are able to age in
their homes, but also in the community. This movement fosters interdependence
between neighbors who support aging members, in addition to honoring the
contributions of younger members. We see villages as playing a vital role in
our future as an Age-Friendly city, as they are already championing the value
and wisdom older adults bring to our neighborhoods.
“Supporting
the efforts of Columbus’ villages will spur expansion of services provided and
neighborhoods influenced. Further, villages have proven to be successful models
for championing older adult engagement in governance and civic engagement
roles. This commitment to planning with, not for, older adults also supports
the vision of the Age-Friendly Columbus initiative,” he continued.
Village
Connections, established in 2014, is a grassroots membership organization of
neighbors helping older neighbors to stay independent and active in their
community as they age. Village members are age 50 and over and live in the
neighborhoods of German Village, Merion Village, Schumacher Place, the Brewery
District, and Downtown. Village members have access to a wide range of
services, including transportation, yard work, and home maintenance provided by
a group of dedicated volunteers. Passage of ordinance 1288-2017 allows an
additional 40 Columbus residents to join Village Connections at a subsidized
annual rate.
Village
in the Ville, established by the Clintonville-Beechwold Community Resources
Center (CRC) in 2016, is a membership-based organization, also focused in
helping older neighbors stay independent and active in their community. The
Village serves neighbors age 50 and over residing in the greater
Clintonville-Beechwold area. Village members have access to referrals to
resources and a wide range of volunteer-provided services including
transportation to appointments and errands, health and wellness support, social
outings, financial planning and disaster preparedness. Passage of ordinance
1287-2017 provides support to the Village’s operating costs.
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