First Age In Place Community Meeting
Meeting Leader: Barbara Braham, PhD

Seventeen people, ranging in age from 40’s to 80’s, attended the first meeting to explore Aging in Place at North Bank. There are almost as many who expressed interest but couldn’t attend the first meeting. Below is a summary of the meeting.

Initial Discussion

We began the meeting with introductions and a discussion of our Hopes and Expectations for an Aging in Place program. We created two flip charts that captured those ideas. There are people who would like some “supports” to be in place, and there are people who would like to offer support. That’s an important balance for this to work. Many people emphasized the importance of having activities readily available that anyone could attend without needing to sign-up, or try to find someone who shared the interest. For example, a regular time for morning coffee in the Community Room or a regularly scheduled walking group, or a group to work out together in the exercise room. The last cluster of hopes/expectations centered around having a structure in place to support people as needed. For example: someone to run an errand if you’ve had surgery or are ill, someone to walk your dog if you aren’t feeling well, someone to change a ceiling lightbulb if you can’t get up on a ladder, or someone to check-in on you. Some resources were shared and there is interest in gathering more resources. Carole Jarrell shared this website from southern California about Aging in Place.

Group Discussion
Following introductions, we divided into small groups and shared what we already know about Aging in Place from friends, other condominiums, readings, faith communities, or personal expertise. Those were reported out and captured on another flip chart that is attached. We found ourselves beginning to talk about what and how we might implement some of the ideas which will be the focus of the next meeting on November 10, 2024, from 6-7PM in the Community Room. We closed the meeting by giving each person 5 notecards. Between now and November 10, individuals will write one idea on each card for something they would like to see North Bank implement around Aging in Place, and either bring their cards to the next meeting, or, if you can’t attend, get them to Barbara (403) before November 10.

At the next meeting we will spread all the cards out on the tables, cluster them into similar topics, and then vote on which one(s) we want to implement first (please write legibly and large).

All residents are welcome to participate in the design (and use) of our Aging in Place program. I will only send out emails to those who have expressed interest. If you talk to someone who wants to be included, please ask them to send me an email and I will add them to the list. Feel free to reach out with questions and/or comments.