"Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?" — Mary Oliver

"The privilege of a lifetime is being who you are" Joseph Campbell

"The only religious way to think of death is as part and parcel of life." Thomas Mann

Live your life in a Community as pro-active physically and mentally as you are!

Aging Affirmation

We are encouraged to live our best life by being both active and proactive, physically and mentally. For some this can mean regularly walking the Creeper Trail, cycling, playing golf, swimming, flying a kite, canoeing, yoga and other classes at the Coomes Center, taking advantage of the many opportunities for exercise in this area.

Or it can mean exploring new or old skills, doing artwork in our Art Room, or participating in the plethora of low-cost educational opportunities in the area.

ElderSpirit resident Richard Brumleve demonstrates aging affirmation. He was recently quoted in Sally Abrams' AARP Bulletin article called "Elder CoHousing: A new option for retirement - or sooner!" To quote from this article: "We can always go home and pull down the blinds. But I think we're all committed to not burying our disagreements and issues . . . . We're not afraid to talk about preparing to die or illness or the lessening of our abilities to do things." Richard is a retired English teacher who moved to ElderSpirit with his wife after reading a newspaper article about the Community. At age 72, he has been learning new skills, like many of his neighbors. He has taken up watercolor painting, sharing a studio in the common house with other residents, one of whom is a professional painter. You, too, could follow your dream.

Increased focus on spiritual issues is seen as one of the gifts of aging affirmation. We also provide many opportunities for our members to discover . . . or rediscover . . . talents and abilities that enrich all of our lives. As an example, we have

Other residents spearhead local ecumenical, ecological and other movements. The Increasing wisdom and community involvement allow us to live the "good life" and to be generative to the end.

End of Life

As members of ElderSpirit Community at Trailview we are committed to the concept of "aging in community", the ability to live in one’s own home and community safely, independently, and comfortably, regardless of age, income, or ability level. It is our intention therefore to provide support we call "neighborly care" to other residents as long as their health allows them to live independently with such resources.

This is not to be interpreted as the type of service one might receive in a personal care home or assisted living facility. If there is a need for nursing or other care for a resident at home, this would have to be provided by professionals. When an individual can no longer be cared for in his or her own home, we help them find a suitable living arrangement. We also stay in contact as advocates for their well-being.