11/6/2024
When:	Nov. 6, 2024 10:00 AM
Where:	Virtual (Link Below) United States
Contact:	Jenn Slattery jslattery@rileague.org

 

Our nonprofit organization is dedicated to helping older adults stay in their homes and communities by providing whatever support a volunteer can offer, embodying the concept of a "village." The village movement in Rhode Island started in 2015 with a single village in Providence and today has members and volunteers in nine communities: Aquidneck Island (communities of Middletown, Newport and Portsmouth), Barrington, Burrillville, Edgewood/Cranston, Glocester, Providence and Westerly. A village focused on supporting our growing population of Spanish speaking older adults is in formation and a statewide Circle of Pride provides supports and connections to older LGBTQ+ persons. Additional local villages are under development in Cumberland, Exeter, Jamestown and Warwick and discussions are underway with persons from the Bristol/Warren area and Richmond.

Local villages focus on transportation, help with home tasks, safety checks, friendly visits, running errands, technology support, help finding services and programs, exercise and recreation programs and social events. As the state’s population grows older, and social isolation and loneliness is on the rise, more older adults are living alone, may not have family to rely on, and the majority cannot afford paid services. Supports provided through local “villages” with their “neighbor helping neighbor” approach benefit village members, volunteers, as well as their local communities and can be an important and cost effective part of the state’s long term services and support system. For more info, visit our website at www.villagecommonri.org