On Brian Williams tonight - Aging in Place
 

Did anyone watch Brian Williams tonite? He did the segment on Staying Put.

I wonder if we have anything like that here in TV?

Friday on "Nightly News" we continued our series called Trading Places, which features stories from the NBC News family, and how we help care for our aging parents. Our latest story features Brian Williams' in-laws, who are part of a movement rejecting the idea of moving late in life to a retirement community or an assisted living facility.

Brian Williams talks about the benefits of the "staying put" program with his in-laws.

They are members of what's known as a "village." The idea behind the "village model," as it's called, is to make it possible for seniors to stay in their communities, even their homes, as long as possible.

If you're interested in finding out if there's a village near you or if you'd like to join the village network, you can find further information at: http://www.vtvnetwork.org

It does seem like a fine idea and one that would work in TV. However, like every other civic enterprise I imagine a handful of people would do all the work and the rest would do little but complain.

Sadly you are so right. That is why some forms of governmental problem solving don't work either.


But quiet good exists and it works behind the scenes. I have seen it. There is much good here in this place and much compassion. There are many posters that I know personally delivering meals, checking on people, even quietly helping with bills sometimes. I know of one poster who has started a business to assist aging people and probably knows how to get federal funding for it and thus provide an income for herself while providing a needed service. Many of our churches have programs designed to help the older members of our community in many ways. Many ways. I see a lot of good being done here, as I say, quietly.

Why can't we have this support service?
As an example we have Operation Shoebox.
Living in a 55+ community our size we could
use help from each other.

For those who would complain, don't need
to help out