Egremont — Carole Owens, when congratulated on her award this month from Preservation Massachusetts for her ongoing work in the historic preservation of the Berkshires, observed, “I have to say I have done a lot of hands-on work, but I also like the idea that this rewards me for preserving in words what we could not preserve in fact.” The statistics now are telling. The Berkshires has the largest population over 50 in the Commonwealth. It also has the largest aging housing stock. How do we age gracefully together? To care and protect the elderly? Both houses and people? These major parts of the fabric of the life we enjoy here — our neighbors, and our homes, is a front burner topic for many organizations these days.
Now, as we age in our wonderful houses in our wonderful towns, we wonder how to find people to help us change a light bulb, rake a lawn, or get to a doctor’s appointment when we can no longer drive. As we age and our houses age, where can we look for the help that will let us stay here for the duration? Carole’s honor focuses this question through the lens of Preservation Massachusetts’ work, and the work of Historic New England. Both organizations now developing materials and advice on how to help us age gracefully with our houses.
Last month, at a meeting of the Western Regional Historical Commissions, this question was the only topic on the agenda. Also present was Berkshire Regional Planning Commission‘s Lauren Gaherty asking questions about how to interface their new program Healthy Aging, and maintaining our senior’s in their own and in some cases historic houses we all love here in the Berkshires.
Healthy Aging’s new director, Celeste Harp, who is heading up this project with the guidance and support of BRPC, hosted a meeting April 1 for interested seniors on what are the areas of concern for those of us who want to age in place and remain engaged and happy. Hosting meetings at three venues — Adams, Pittsfield, and Great Barrington — the BRPC is gathering information on what are major areas of concern that seniors face here in the Berkshires.
The first challenge is of course living. Maintaining a house that might now be bigger than our needs on all levels. Some ideas brought forward were small, some big, but all interesting. Mt. Washington’s residents, who love their mountain and are loathe to leave it, are looking into house sharing. Not a new idea, and I am sure Carole has some historic precedents tucked in her idea file we might read about in a new story. Roommates.
Another idea was the Village-to-Village Network. A national initiative with a blueprint for effectively managing and aging in a structured community organization that has been quite successful where retirement communities are not available, or impossible, such as in Cambridge, Mass., where residents have banded together to share services such as shopping. They have a presence online that explains what they do and how to do it. The need for senior housing also was presented, both as a cost control effort for those on fixed incomes, and also ease of living issues as they arise.
Transportation is another area of interest for an aging population and yesterday Berkshire Regional Transit Authority presented several initiatives they are now offering for an actual door-to-door service for those in need, among other innovations. John Lutz, Director of Elder Services of Berkshire County, also spoke of their transportation efforts, as well as the many other services they provide for thousands across the Berkshires.
We also touched on some of the more philosophical aspects of aging. Our need to share; be useful and engaged, be able to have family and young people in our lives and, when we die, be able to have some control over that event through the introduction of a spiritual dimension, as well as a right to die if we so choose; and how to write these directives into a legally binding — and legal — document. All big questions for a two-hour meeting. In fact, it was clear to me as a member of the boomers now aging here, that there is a lot of thought being given to these questions on many different levels. The biggest idea to come out of it was the need for a clearinghouse where we could access whatever service we might need through one handy dispatcher.
This means (I hope) that we can relax a bit and enjoy being right here in the Berkshires reading Carole Owens’ latest tidbit of historic gossip she has so skillfully brought to our attention, and remind you that on June 26th Carole will be reading from her book, “Remarkable Women of New England” at the South Egremont Library at 1 p.m.
And for those whose houses are aging along with them, your local historical commissions are now gearing up on this question as well. Many of you hold your greatest value in your real estate and, while we wait for high speed internet, now is a good time to stabilize your home’s historic value as you consider energy and efficiency upgrades. There are books on renovating old houses, and contractor contacts through both Historic New England and Preservation Massachusetts and your local historical commissions. Ask Town Hall how to contact them.
