Exploring options for aging in place in East Falls

Seven members of the East Falls Village (EFV) committees attended a national conference in mid-November, to explore options for helping people to live comfortably and safely in their own homes for as long as they can. 

Approximately 200 people attended the Center City conference sponsored by the national Village to Village Network. Through formal sessions and chatting informally with people from across the country, all EFV attendees gained useful information to help launch a neighborhood village in East Falls, called East Falls Village (EFV). 

Charlie Day, EFV Chairperson, said the most important thing he learned was that each village is unique, with different services and organization to meet the needs of its community. He said that EFV will have one of the most reasonably priced membership fees ($125 as compared to the average of $430 per year).

Julie Camburn, Chair or the Membership/Marketing Committee, said that the most important thing she learned was the importance of building strategic partnerships with medical and educational institutions.

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Henry (Hank) Harrison, who is coordinating computer services for EFV, met with vendors and representatives from other villages to find out the best and most reasonable databases to manage EFV membership, volunteers, vendors, services and programs.

Volunteers: the core of “Neighbor to Neighbor”

Volunteers are an important component of all villages, but will be especially important in East Falls Village since we will not have paid staff, need to keep costs down and hope to build a stronger sense of community.

Some East Falls residents have already expressed interest in volunteering for one or more neighbor-to-neighbor services: transportation, help with light activities (shopping, pet care, watering plants), paperwork, light home maintenance, electronics and outdoor work. Volunteers are needed as well to support EFV activities (inputting data, answering phone calls, planning social/educational programs and providing computer services).

The EFV is hosting two volunteer briefings in December for those interested in participating. The first is on Monday, Dec. 6 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. and the second is on Thursday, Dec. 9 from 3:30 to 5 p.m.

Volunteers are adults of any age who are willing to help their East Falls neighbors. Show that East Falls cares!

For more news from the Fallser, visit TheFallser.com

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