Conscious Communities / It Takes a Village
Contemporary Community Models Support Optimal &Affordable Healthcare Systems
Community-based Strategy Although the original mission of Conscious Health Network / CHN (operating as Conscious Care Systems / CCS & Integrative Wellness & Lifestyle Systems / I-WELL) was to provide much better and less costly care for elder and challenged individuals, it has inevitably evolved to include cutting-edge, intergenerational village prototypes, and to maintaining lifelong good health for all.
The Big Picture Ultimately, the only way to meet the extreme challenges of our time is to address the big picture. The I-WELL division of CHN will focus on prevention of illness through Integrative Medicine and Lifestyle enhancement and will include retirement and long-term care/LTC settings as delivered through Conscious Care Systems.
Going forward, Conscious Care Systems / CCS remains focused on advancing its long-term services and supports (LTSS) agenda while contributing to the rollout of the I-WELL division of CHN in many intergenerational venues.
Alternative Residential Settings Many societies are fast approaching an inflection point as people actively seek alternative residential settings that provide real security while supporting healthy living/aging, healing and personal fulfillment. Such populations are also quite willing to commit their savings and inheritances to investments that meet the kinds of criteria that ensure access to the most advanced systems available, criteria that are integral to organizations such as Conscious Health Network.
CHN "It Takes a Village" intergenerational models may be implemented in any urban, rural or suburban setting. An enhanced public presence and financial benefits for government agencies, NGOs, and for-profit organizations alike may be realized through participation in various programs accessible through CHN’s highly innovative and comprehensive system.
Doable Humanism is an apt term describing the mission of CHN Intentional communities supported by advanced organizational and technological functions which will allow us to simply, very simply, take care of each other so that everyone gives what they have to give, and gets back what they need or want.
Economic Bastion Although CCS programs were initially oriented to elder, challenged, and institutionalized individuals, its community-based approaches and intergenerational / intercultural objectives have remained core to the overall mission and execution strategy. This includes the realization that it will ultimately be necessary to return to a community-based caregiving orientation to ensure that end-of-life services do not further bankrupt our societies fiscally "and in terms of manpower" as they now threaten to do.
Interdependent Communities have historically allowed for a natural and socially viable aging process with every member in some way contributing to caring for the vulnerable among them. Yet our western society has now developed an inhumane and unsustainable system that removes the very aspects of life that bring comfort and offer some sense of meaning to those living compromised lives.
Intergenerational / Intentional communities recreate village environments and offer gratifying and purposeful lifestyles to all, such as have existed throughout most of human history, and still predominate in many traditional cultures throughout the world.
Bed of Roses People should always feel that they are really at home even when residing in an LTC community, and those who care for them whether family, volunteers or paid staff must also feel comfortable and truly supported in these settings. Caregiver employees often have very significant needs and challenges themselves that must also be met in order to stabilize a crumbling workforce. See: CHN Incentives & Supports
"CHN-Certified" CHN understands the critical role that communal supports, incentives and benefits play in creating sustainable and impactful care solutions. A designation of CHN-Certified will conclusively guarantee that an intergenerational or elder living Conscious Community is operating at the highest practicable levels for the benefit and well-being of all, and is doing so in the most economical way possible.
All for One / One for All CHN intergenerational programs are important to the ambitious goals of improved care and lifestyle for individuals and to a fully-funded and community-supported system of care that will significantly impact federal, state, and local payers.
The Good Life CHN is comprised of prominent professionals in diverse fields who are committed to improving care delivery and creating optimum living environments for elder and challenged clients and to providing support systems for many others. Appealing and satisfying lifestyles are tailored to physical and cognitive abilities, individual needs and preferences (or previous preferences), and available resources.
Healthcare Ecosystem CHN is committed to the development of a healthcare ecosystem that not only elevates individual well-being but also contributes to a more resilient and interconnected care landscape. Benefits to, and meaningful incentives for, all vested constituents are intrinsic to every program and protocol of the CHN systems.
CHN / CCS Life Enrichment programs and services will be geared to creating on-site and virtual community centers that include symbiotic and economic relationships with local communities, businesses, schools, etc.
These Community Life programs will add significant value to CHN models and affiliate orgranizations and groups. Increased market demand and improved economics will result from the performance of CHN Conscious Communities as supported by CHN divisions: I-WELL and CCS.
Client Productivity CHN programs promote mental and physical health and ensure that those with diverse capacities are accommodated and supported to function at maximum levels in nurturing settings.
- CHN / CCS Village Model – Magnet intergenerational community centers are to be affiliated with, or integrated directly into, long-term care (LTC) venues to create a foundation for economic, societal, civic, and governmental development.
Interdependent / Interactive CHN Conscious Community centers:
- – Support launch of business projects / cottage industries
- – Provide diverse intergenerational education and training programs
- – Integrate challenged citizens into the larger community / neighborhoods
- – Provide day service locations & programs for children, elders and challenged individuals
- – CHN Neighborhood Community Centers, and individual homes, provide care delivery, support systems, extensive community and governmental services, employment opportunities and training
(See: CHN Neighborhood Outreach, Independent Living, and Adopt-A- Neighbor programs) - – All contributions of time, expertise, materials, physical venues for habitation/work/leisure etc., to be assigned monetary currency valuation and/or commensurate accruable and transferable credit value for future products, services, etc.
- – CHN Centers and residences coordinate and supervise programs and services with other community and government orgs, businesses, schools, colleges, etc., and foster PR opportunities for such
- – Community business hub creates new revenue streams, provides enhanced visibility profiles & promotional opportunities, offers economies of scale to affiliates
Benchmark Status CHN certification criterion will serve to guarantee codified and peerless social, wellness and care delivery models that will become benchmark standards in local communities, and throughout the healthcare industry. CHN's emphasis on village-like systems in all residential settings and strong support for local culture will be important to developing effective, economic, and sustainable models for the future.
Links – Conscious Communities / It Takes a Village
Senior intentional communities by definition are well equipped to provide for the practicalities of aging in place "think elevators, wheelchair accessibility, air conditioning" as well as the emotional needs, such as mutual support, engaging activities, and beautiful environments. Mar 8, 2023
Senior vs. intergenerational intentional communities:
Resources for finding senior intentional communities:
https://www.sagecohoadvocates.org/: SAGE (Senior Cohousing Advocates) provides a list of communities that are specifically for those 55 years or older located in both the US and Canada.
http://seniorcoops.org/: Seniors looking for more cooperative housing as they age will appreciate the Senior Cooperative Foundation (SCF) with a list of 100+ senior coops in the United States.
https://www.ic.org/community-bookstore/product/the-senior-cohousing-handbook/: – This book is a guide to all things related to joining and starting a senior cohousing community.
Short answer: No, you are not too old to join an intentional community.
Don't let your age stop you from considering joining an intentional community. For both senior and intergenerational communities alike, people in their older years bring richness and experience that is essential for a thriving community. We need seniors in community!
Moreover, intentional communities can provide working models for how society can value elders. Communities show how seniors can age in place with dignity and grace, surrounded by supportive neighbors. Seniors of all ages, even into their 80s, have successfully joined intentional communities. You can do it too. You can find purpose and support within community in every phase of life. You may need to be selective about which communities are a fit, however. Hopefully this article has helped you with some of the considerations involved with joining a community as a senior.
For more information, the Foundation for Intentional Community offers excellent online courses regarding aging in community. Learn more about their offerings. To get recommendations for communities that are welcoming seniors and may be a fit for your specific situation, consider signing-up for a community matchmaking session.
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