Ruth and Jeananne: Finding Friendship In North Shore Village
While many older adults—including 90 percent of surveyed "boomers"—would prefer to remain in their own homes as they age, the prospect of continuously choreographing the services and programs that make "aging in place" a safe option can put the kibosh on such dreams. But not for residents of Evanston and Wilmette, thanks to North Shore Village. Launched earlier this year, North Shore Village joins the dozens of "villages" nationwide that provide a cornucopia of services and activities enabling members to remain in their homes as the years advance.
"It takes a village," a metaphor that portrays the role of collaboration and community in successfully nurturing the nation's children, aptly describes the workings of "villages" supporting the needs of aging-in-place adults. At North Shore Village, the central office serves as both a contact point and a clearinghouse for members, while volunteers do everything from providing rides to appointments and shopping trips to providing friendly companionship—even in the emergency room, which is where North Shore Village member Ruth Eckhouse found herself recently, after a fall in her home fractured her pelvis. Her story illustrates why villages fit member, family and community needs.
Vibrant and independent-minded, Ruth Eckhouse is a founding member of North Shore Village. "I joined because I liked the concept," she says. "I wanted to stay in my own home. I didn't want to live some place where I had to dinner at 5 o'clock. I want dinner when I want it—after I watch Jim Lehrer on PBS NewsHour."
When she fell, Ruth called a friend who helped her up and called 911. The same friend called Ruth's daughter, who lives near Boston, who contacted North Shore Village and got an almost immediate response from North Shore Village Executive Director Helen Gagel, who responded within a half-hour, came to the hospital herself, and arranged for Ruth to have a caregiver when she returned home. When the hospital discharged Ruth five hours later, two Village volunteers drove her home and a volunteer brought her prescriptions from the drug store. Over the following days, Village member-volunteers picked up groceries for Ruth at Trader Joe's, shopped the Evanston Farmer's Market for her, and continued to visit as she recuperated.
One of those volunteers was Jeananne Digan, who had met Ruth when the two of them paired up to plan last February's kickoff party for NSV Founding Members. They soon developed a close friendship that crossed the generational divide. "I'm thankful that I met Ruth through North Shore Village," said Jeananne. "She's funny and creative. She has lots of ideas, but she doesn't just make suggestions, she rolls up her sleeves and implements."
Reflecting on her experience and the need for a "village," Ruth observes that relying on friends on family isn't always an option. "As we get older, our circle of friends tightens. They may move to assisted living, or develop dementia." Children scatter as well. With a daughter on the east coast and a son in Iowa, Ruth is like many older adults whose children are far-flung. Moreover, most have little desire to burden their children with long-distance caregiving or to park themselves on their children's doorsteps. Her friendship with Jeananne, and her contact with NSV members and volunteers, has enhanced Ruth's already full life. And when she needed help after her trip to the ER, the Village was there for her.
"Because of my many positive experiences I'm trying to interest others in joining North Shore Village," says Ruth. "It has so much to offer right now. There's no reason to wait until you ‘need' it."
Having Ruth as a friend has enhanced Jeananne's life as well. And being involved in Ruth's care after her fall "was inspiring to me," she said. "Ruth is truly aging with grace."
