Neighborhood Hometown

am an avid reader of Globe North to follow local area issues. Reading your article in this Sunday's (8/3/08)
Globe North (slow motion" about the shift in population i can see how this applies to all parts of the Commonwealth. We all realize that the state has a major problem with funding from the Federal Government
if this trend continues.
In the article you point out the movement of population from Lynn to neighboring Peabody (Brooksby Villiage)
which is an assisted living for Seniors mostly affluent long time residents of Lynn looking for a safe and affordable upscale community. I assume Most would rather have rremained in their home and take the next available alternative remaining in the neighboring town in Essex County. We all want to improve our lifestyle.
A followup to your piece on the growing Senior population and their contribution to stability of a city and towns
and what the programs that could be put in place keeping long term residents it their neghborhood and particularly in home environments.
Example Mass Senior Action an advocate group for Seniors have supported with success protecting the rights and needs of elders in Senior and Disabled in subsidized housing. I would like to see them expand to help long time residents not only remain in familiar localities but in the home environment of a familiar neighbor hood.
IN MALDEN:
The Mayor Richard C. Howard, the Malden City Council, The Malden Revelopment Authority, Council on aging after urging from senior groups have plans to opening a new Malden Senior Community Center (Dec 8 2008)
in the downtown Area to improve the economic climate and revitalize Malden Center.
I would suggest their would be much interest to have Globe North do an in depth article of what is happening in Malden to retain our population is a safe and enjoyable city.
I have talked to the Mayor and he is for an outreach program to have a promotion and participation of all non profits in the New Senior Community Center. The concept is to have services to "keep independent living in the neighborhood"
How we can help home caregivers. We need the cooperation of all the non profits who are charged with servicing the Seniors our City Council who represent the citizens throughout the city all the citizens with a Vision For Malden
I would call it a declaration of Independence.
Right now I am trying to get a Focus group to gether for Ideas Interest and comments.
We have a model of several village concepts as guides of what can be done.
As an example:
Beacon Hill Village an all encompassing concierge service created by residents who want to grow old in the homes they have lived in for years.
This could be done on a regional basis or City wide even in a neighborhood.
This is what needs to be determined.
In the service by an organization they can deal with almost any contingency
large of small
without relying on relatives of friends. To preserve their Independence, they
can turn to the village as the non profit association is known
At Beacon Hill they have 320 members find virtually any service, large of small
from 24 hour nursing care to help with a home meal. all at a discounted fee or
from an "entitlement program"
Dan O'Leary Executive director(Mystic Valley Elders ) is on board and has already
had a focus group in Melrose to a standing room only crowd Keven Duffy of Healthy Malden has expressed interest. And Phil Gerioux of Tri Cap is considering his roll. All the city councilors and been briefed. Jim Nestor has all the information and was to contact Chris Depietro Dirtector of Elder Affairs Malden for her input. It would be a help if you and your members would find out from Jim his progress (Jim Nestor) and get a status report
REMEMBER NEW SENIOR COMMUNITY CENTER IS IN WARD 4 VITAL to economic development
of the downtown area.

Any neighbohood resident is asked to participate with membership between 50 and older.
Anyone with a parent needing sercie should be involved.
MaldenSenior
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Howard McGowan
MaldenSenior
349 Pleasant Street
Malden, Ma 02148
781 324 8076

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