Historical November–December 2012 article. Dates, prices, services and contacts describe the source period; current availability has not been established.
As the trees change color and the days grow cool, Skinker DeBaliviere residents are digging out yard rakes and ice scrapers from the backs of garages and trunks of cars, preparing for falling leaves and frosty mornings. Those carpets of red and gold leaves are lovely; the annual chore of raking and disposing of them, however, is hard work. Without assistance, some of our neighbors may wonder how on earth they’ll manage it before the icy rains of November turn those pretty leaves into a sodden and slippery mess. Raking leaves is only one of the physical and logistical challenges facing aging homeowners, and a minor one. Studies confirm that the vast majority of Americans want to remain in their own homes and neighborhoods as they grow older.
This simple preference to “age in place” may be complicated by the difficulty of maintaining a home that has become too large to care for or navigate safely. Other challenges to aging in place include finding affordable, dependable assistance with daily and seasonal tasks and convenient, reliable transportation.
The wish to downsize locally may be thwarted, also, by a lack of affordable, attractive housing designed to meet the needs of seniors who want to stay in the neighborhood. Many Skinker DeBaliviere residents have lived here a long time. Over the years, they have purchased homes, raised families, forged friendships, and become active members of local committees, clubs, and congregations.
These now-older residents enhance the diversity and vitality of the neighborhood with their experience and wisdom; their memories deepen our shared understanding of the place we all call home.
As a community, how can we ensure that older residents in Skinker DeBaliviere remain independent, comfortable, and safe in their homes and fully engaged in neighborhood life?
The Skinker DeBaliviere Community Council (SDCC) is taking a good look at this question.
According to the 2010 Census, more than 700 adults aged 65 and older live in this neighborhood – 11% of the total population. By 2030, that number is expected to double, with a particularly large increase in the percentage of adults aged 85+. Given these statistics and the Council’s mission to maintain the neighborhood’s diversity and enhance residents’ quality of life, the SDCC’s new Neighborhood Services Committee (NSC) has chosen to focus first on issues of particular concern to residents aged 65 and older.
The NSC’s first meeting on September 27 was attended by an intrigued but somewhat skeptical group of residents, as well as SDCC staff, community leaders, and volunteers.
All agreed there is a need for greater community support for neighborhood elders. Not entirely clear, however, are the specific kinds of support needed or the varying degrees of need.
Some Skinker DeBaliviere seniors have strong support networks of nearby families and friends. Others are more isolated and face many of the challenges of aging in place almost entirely on their own. Health conditions vary; employment status differs.
Some older residents are not only facing their own challenges but are also caregivers for children, grandchildren, spouses, or elderly relatives. Given the wide spectrum of circumstances facing Skinker DeBaliviere seniors, the NSC has decided to work with graduate students from Washington University to design and conduct a needs assessment survey of neighborhood residents aged 65+.
The 40-question survey is designed to get as clear a picture as possible of the benefits and challenges of aging in place in Skinker DeBaliviere.
The survey is also completely confidential. Respondents may, if they choose, provide their names and contact information for the SDCC mailing list, but that is a separate request and not part of the survey itself. Results of the survey will be used by the NSC to coordinate services and develop volunteer programs to meet the actual needs of neighborhood residents, now and in the future. Since it is not possible to interview 700 people in two weeks, WashU grad students will contact, by telephone, a random sampling of older residents from every part of the neighborhood.
If you are called, the student will work with you to schedule a convenient time to drop off the survey at your home and pick it up again when you are finished. At your request, students will be happy to sit down and help you complete the survey, or just keep you company while you complete it, as you prefer. Folks who complete the survey will be doing a wonderful service by helping the Skinker DeBaliviere Community Council understand the needs and concerns of neighborhood seniors. You will also be helping to keep Skinker DeBaliviere an attractive, diverse, and welcoming community for residents of all ages. For more information about the survey or the Neighborhood Services Committee, please email Kathie East, SDCC Intern, at keast@ wustl.edu or Jessica Eiland at Jessica.Eiland@ skinker-debaliviere.com or call the SDCC office at (314) 862-5122.
The next NSC meeting is scheduled for Thursday, November 8, at 5:30 p.m. at the SDCC office, 6008 Kingsbury Avenue.
All are welcome.
Originally published in The Times of Skinker-DeBaliviere, November–December 2012.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Archival transcription note: Source more than 700 seniors/11 percent with geographic denominator unspecified differs from prior 4077 neighborhoodpopulation. No harmonization or Hamilton inference. Projection 2030 doubling lacks underlying citation.
Original source: SD_Times2012_11.pdf, printed page(s) 1; PDF page(s) 1.
