The Northwest Village PDX Coordinating Council has not been sitting on its collective hands this winter. At our January 14 general meeting, the Council announced a target date for launching Northeast Village PDX services (June 2016) and a detailed, month-by-month plan for getting us there.  

 Activities on the estimated timeline include: 

Do any of these situations sound familiar? Northeast Village PDX aims to bring services to people in these and similar circumstances to keep them living in their homes as long as possible.

Margaret has macular degeneration and can no longer drive. Having a Village means that a volunteer will drive her to her appointments and help her shop for groceries.

Paula's adult children live on the East Coast. With Northeast Village PDX there to help, they won't have to worry about coordinating services long distance.

Betsy's late husband handled all their home repairs. As a Village member, she can call on volunteers to do simple repairs and yard upkeep.

George's house will soon need a new roof, but he has heard horror stories about other seniors being bilked. His Village membership gives him access to licensed roofers and other professionals who can provide their services at reduced rates negotiated by the Village.

Judy and Russ just got a new computer, and they need help learning to use it. The Village has partnered with local schools and colleges to provide the help they need from a youthful and thoroughly digital-savvy volunteer.

Our February general meeting featured a discussion of Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End by Atul Gawande, a practicing surgeon and regular contributor to the New Yorker. Ann Cason, a volunteer with NE Village PDX, led the discussion. 

In his book, Dr. Gawande poses the idea that the sick and aged in this country are victims of society's inability to accept the fact that none of us is immortal. Instead of offering dying patients risky medical solutions that will only prolong life a month or two, Gawande says, doctors should be asking, "What do you really want and need?" The answer may be as simple as a chance to be at home and enjoy a dish of ice cream every day, or sit on the deck and watch the grandchildren play, or enjoy a glass of wine at sunset.

Discussion at the meeting centered on the need to begin planning for the inevitable decline in our independence and autonomy now, rather than when we are in the midst of a crisis. And because few doctors are trained to ask the critical, non-medical questions, we may need to take the lead.