Avenidas

Re-Inventing Aging

Avenidas Village

Avenidas Village

Avenidas Village Featured in Palo Alto Weekly

Published in the Palo Alto Weekly on July 2, 2021.

It takes a village: Seniors find support while aging in place

Avenidas Village operates as a mutual aid society for seniors growing old in their own homes, with support from the national Village to Village Network. Members detail their experiences for Palo Alto Weekly.

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“Avenidas Village has become my community,” said Menlo Park resident Alice Kozar, a retired physician who joined several years ago after her husband developed health problems, including dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. “I am now home but not alone. Even though my son suffered a surprise stroke and died at 45, and my husband is in assisted living … I don’t feel isolated.”

Chris Kenrick, Palo Alto Weekly

On the cover: Deborah Clark and Janet Constantinou chat while walking with other Avenidas Village members on their weekly promenade, in Palo Alto on June 30, 2021. Photo by Magali Gauthier.

Seniors face many challenges if they want to continue living in their home as long as possible, so Avenidas Village services support members with home maintenance, health, transportation, social engagement, caregiving, and more to meet their dynamic needs.

Click the cover image to download the PDF.

Avenidas Village Members Appreciate Grocery Delivery

Avenidas Village Members Edgar and Gee Gee Williams are so relieved that they can get their groceries delivered to them during this pandemic from Avenidas Village Social Coordinator Sabrina Huang.

Sabrina Huang (front) at a safe distance from Eric and Gee Gee Williams and their dog, who is sniffing at the grocery bags. All three humans are wearing masks.
Sabrina Huang’s no-contact grocery delivery service.

Want to learn how Avenidas Village can help you? Join a virtual Coffee Chat with current members.

A Message from Vassar’s President, via Chuck Sieloff

Chuck Sieloff shared this with the Avenidas Village mailing list.

As we enter a time of anxiety and uncertainty, cut off from many of the things that bind our community together, let’s remember to reach out to fellow Village members to offer each other whatever assistance and support we are able to give. 

Today, the president of Vassar College (where I have a grandson enrolled as a student) sent out this message. It resonated with me, and perhaps it will with you, too.

Conversations will not be cancelled.
Relationships will not be canceled.
Love will not be canceled.
Songs will not be canceled.
Reading will not be canceled.
Self-care will not be canceled.
Hope will not be canceled.
May we lean into the good stuff that remains.

Words by @jamietworkowski

Avenidas Village End of Life Presentation in Palo Alto Online

In case you haven’t seen it in print or online, here is a link to an excellent article in the March 6th Palo Alto Weekly/Palo Alto Online covering a recent Village presentation featuring villager Ralph Cahn who shared his and his wife’s personal experience with medical aid in dying.

Sue’s farewell: A Palo Alto ‘end-of-life’ story

A Palo Alto woman who decided it was time to legally end her life went through with her decision last year through California’s End of Life Option Act.

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Ralph’s moving story was followed by Christina Goodwin of Compassion & Choices, who provided the latest stats and updates on the End of Life Option Act.

If you missed the presentation or would like to review it, you can watch the video

Village Members Tour Aquaponics Farm

  • Avenidas Village members at Ouroboros Aquaponics
  • Avenidas Village members at Ouroboros Aquaponics
  • Avenidas VIllage members visiting Ouroboros Aquaponics
  • Avenidas Village members eating their Dad's Sandwiches outside at Swiss 55
  • Village Members eated outside at Swiss 55

In July 2019, Avenidas Village members took a tour of Ouroboros Farms Aquaponics in Half Moon Bay, with lunch and Swiss chocolates afterwards. The group had fun and is considering a 2020 tour.

We bought sandwiches from Dad’s Luncheonette. The owner, Scott Clark, is a formal three-Michelin-star chef from Saison. Dad’s is a casual place serving sandwiches and burgers from a repurposed caboose.  

We walked over to Sweet55, makers of artisanal Swiss chocolates, to sit at their tables with our sandwiches. The owner of the Sweet55 shared her story with us after lunch and she gave us some samples to taste. Some members also bought some to share and take home.

Text and photos courtesy of Sabrina Huang.