Foster City Village

On Sunday the Village came to town.

The nice people at Foster City Village gave a short presentation to our congregation, which fits right in with the Village's desired demographic:

Foster City Village is not a real estate development or another retirement community.

Our mission is to enable older adults to continue living in their homes and communities as they age by providing mobility, practical assistance, easy access to services, social connections and educational opportunities.

We are a non-profit, membership-based organization comprised of neighbors helping neighbors for an improved quality of life – enabling healthier aging for our members and peace of mind for their families.

Foster City Village, whose staff, volunteers, and members number 170 in our city of 30,000, is part of a 200+ network of "villages" that have sprung up across the country to cater to the needs of local senior populations. The presenters did describe the services--primarily transportation--that most members used, but the social and educational activities were especially emphasized.

My grandparents and parents spent their entire lives near where they were born, with many friends and relatives close by. That world is long gone, and many seniors live lives of quiet separation, far from their home towns. Organizations like the Village help to combat the epidemic of loneliness in the aged. Right now I have plenty of volunteering, family, and professional activities to keep my calendar full, so I won't be signing up, but some day....