Village Santa Cruz County is a nonprofit, peer-support group of volunteers dedicated to aging better by increasing our social engagement and connections, and through shared knowledge and mutual support. Area-based “Community Circles” provide a venue where members can develop trusted, supportive relationships, help each other, socialize, and learn from each other. Village-wide “Interest Groups” provide a setting for members to pursue specific interests within small groups.
Our project meets a broad need: It is to offer a systematic, proven method to organize and consolidate all essential information in one place — hardcopy and digital. Life is unpredictable. A medical crisis, dementia, or death can leave everyone scrambling. Critical decisions are hard enough without the stress of searching for documents and passwords.
We request support to purchase a license and materials to run a pilot that is open to the public. We have identified 12 topics that can be taught in 6 workshops over 6 months. Attendees would have a complete record, revisable as circumstances change, and easy to locate.
Topics covered are personal, legal, medical, financial, insurance, real estate, living options, daily living, crisis plan, home health, hospice and end of life. Offered both in person and online, the workshops would serve older adults and 40-50-year-olds who often act on behalf of a parent or other loved one during a crisis, and professionals who have expertise in these fields.
I have been blessed by the support of several Village Santa Cruz members after carpal tunnel surgery and after a back injury. Support included rides, attending doctor appts., food delivery, errands, home visits, check-ins and humor!
Annaleah, Aptos, 70+
