Page 15 - C.A.L.L. #34 - Winter 2011/2012

I happen to have it from reliable sources that the rate of human life expectancy has been
rising of a few points yearly, and I can actually observe the surprisingly accelerating aging
process all around me (excepting present company, and myself, of course). You can read
articles on this topic in the previous issue of this precious journal, and Communities
magazine has dedicated a whole issue to this topic (#149 - Winter 2010). I reprint excerpts
from Chris Roth's somewhat subdued editorial and Raines Cohen's piece entitled "Aging in
Community".

Getting Elder All the Time priorities, as our vulnerabilities and
weaknesses become more obvious. A
What will it be like to be an social web that recognizes this process
elder? If it is simply an and fully values people as
accumulation of physical they age seems a

complaints, I expect it will be prerequisite or having
no fun. In addition to finding happy elders.
ways to take care of and adapt I've felt most at home in
to a changing body, the multigenerational,
redeeming factors will need to sustainability-oriented
be a better understanding of communities that find
life and a new social role, one in roles for their elders. I
which the lessons I've learned through don't want to confront my own
experience are more helpful to others elderhood as mostly a catalog of
than how many loads of sorghum cane I physical complaints-or a constant

can lift. (Realistically, I believe that is struggle to maintain my place, my
already the case.) Whereas physical feeling of community, and some
activity and single-focus goal- semblance of continuity. I want the
accomplishment may make it possible to remainder of my life to be rich in
ignore some of one's own needs for connection and relevance, shared with
deeper social connection and relevance others in settings in which all
as a youth, aging seems to force a generations benefit from one another's
rebalancing and realignment of gifts.

Aging in Community by Raines Cohen

A Movement of Many Pieces
Aging in Community is a ragtag movement of ordinary people banding together and
stepping forward to fill in gaps of the patchwork of care with overlapping efforts,
regional and national, "multiple centers of initiative," people just like you who are,
just in the past decade:

 Building "village model" support structures that can help us stay in our homes,
connecting to neighbors rather than isolating ourselves as we age.

 Creating new cohousing neighborhoods and ecovillages specifically designed to