The Pasadena Village. A community of seniors supporting each other as they age in their own homes

Village VIPs
Bridge the Village Gap

Several members of the AgingNext Village in the Claremont area were invited to join the Pasadena Village VIP (Variously Impaired People) meeting in April, via Zoom. They were curious about what we do and thought maybe they could duplicate this group in their village.

VIP member Karen Bagnard explained the purpose of the group. “We started as a group of people with visual challenges and have since opened up to anyone facing the loss of any function that impacts the way they live. We come together to share challenges, find solutions and keep a sense of humor about life with the goal of keeping our lives whole. As a part of this effort we have invited speakers to present important information to the Village and to inform us about resources in the community.”

The AgingNext visitors enjoyed the meeting so much they asked if they could participate on a regular basis as they explored the possibility of starting their own group in Claremont. Everyone liked the idea of “bridging” the two villages with the common purpose of helping each other meet the challenges of growing older while remaining as independent as possible.

The Pasadena Village VIP group illustrates the power of belonging to a community. There are many resources in the community that any person can access with a little investigation. But it often takes the encouragement and support of those around you to take the first steps, and more importantly, take the next steps. And because of Zoom, AND the courage and adaptability of older adults who take advantage of it, a supportive community can develop across geographic distance.

The topic of the next meeting will be about finding live-in help. Where do you find helpers and how do you decide which ones to trust in your home? Members will do their own research and share their findings at this meeting. The VIP group meets at noon on the third Monday of the month. The next meeting will be on May 17 on Zoom. If you are interested, please call the Pasadena Village office at 626-765-6037 for more information.

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