Mutual support and neighborly care . . .

One of the key components of our life together in ElderSpirit Community is mutual support. We are an "independent living" community practicing compassionate, neighborly support for each other in times of need.

The Mutual Support Committee is one of ElderSpirit Member Association's standing committees. Its mission is to foster wellness and independence in our community, offering ongoing information via health notices, programs and roundtable discussions to facilitate health awareness. Individual members may offer programs, presentations and knowledge on exercise, nutrition and rest.  Social interaction and expression of feelings encourage members to learn ways of taking care of self, asking for, giving and receiving help, without offering medical or health care.

This committee also encourages members to join the "Mutual Support System”. In this system, each member is asked to find two people in the community (or close by) to be her or his Neighborly Support Coordinators. Should a member become ill or injured, they can call their Neighborly Support Coordinators to discuss their needs and how to meet them. This may further involve asking for volunteers from the community to provide help short-term in the way of meals, laundry, rides, shopping, pet care, etc.. In this way we share the care and avoid anyone becoming burdened or overwhelmed.

Our Members' Mutual Support Committee was responsible for creating the attached Mutual Support Brochure. You can view the brochure here.

Since we are an “independent living” community and not an Assisted Living facility, when a member can no longer maintain independence within the community, they, their family if available and their Neighborly Support Coordinators will discuss what if any further help from within or outside of the ElderSpirit Community is necessary or possible.