Lebanon
“Created for seniors, by seniors,” said Wendt, executive director of the interfaith project. The nonprofit organization developed the program to give senior citizens and their families a way to address life and medical issues, among other topics.
The interfaith project developed “Useful Tools” over the course of two years after conversations with seniors about what they needed to be able to age with dignity in their communities.
“Before long, we talked to 400 seniors,” Wendt said.
The organization found that, while those who are well-off usually had a plan for aging, low- to middle-income seniors were struggling to do the same. To address that, the program charges just $15 to cover materials, and those teaching the program must sign a contract agreeing to never charge more than that.
“We want as many low- and middle-income seniors to have this material and we don’t want dollars to get in the way,” Wendt said.
“We created this course,” he said. “We want to give it away.”
The interfaith project’s next facilitator training course — which trains people how to teach the course to others in the community — begins Oct. 19 and runs for five consecutive Thursdays at the Upper Valley Senior Center in Lebanon.
In addition to medical and financial information, the course includes a section called “Calendar on Seasonal Living” that pushes seniors to plan activities with friends and to seek out volunteer and civic opportunities.
“There’s such a need in breaking down the isolation that seniors have,” said Judy Croitoru, program coordinator.
“It’s just stimulating,” Wendt added. “You’re staying engaged in part of the community.”
The tools also make it easier for seniors who have immediate family members living farther away. Wendt recalled a husband and wife in their 70s who had major medical events around the same time.
“It was really difficult for the kids to come in and take over,” he said.
Future facilitators will learn how to coach seniors to get all of their important information in place.
“People are stepping in from afar without having that information readily available to them,” Croitoru said.
Through the facilitator training, the organization wants to grow the program’s reach.
“Our goal in this first year is to reach 400 seniors,” Wendt said.
Editor’s note: For more information about facilitator training, email unitedvalleyinterfaith@gmail.com. To learn more about other United Valley Interfaith programs, visit http://www.unitedvalleyinterfaithproject.org/. Liz Sauchelli can be reached at esauchelli@vnews.com or 603-727-3221.
