It takes a village to assist a senior

A growing number of seniors are joining “villages” which provide all manner of assistance with the tasks of daily life. The extra help may be enough to allow them to remain at home instead of being forced to move to assisted-living facilities.

Already 50 such nonprofit groups have sprung up around the country and many more are in the works. Services, which are often provided by volunteers, include such things as help using a computer, finding reasonably priced and reliable repair companies or locating a volunteer willing to water the lawn. Help with transportation is also a common request.

Members pay several hundred dollars a year to become part of a village and frequent users of the service may well get their money’s worth. Organizers say their biggest hurdle is persuading seniors to ask for help, something that doesn’t come naturally to some. Funding is provided by private grants and public funds in addition to members’ fees.

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