While sidewalks all around our city are an enormous task that will require lots of money and hard work, it is a doable and necessary project. Little by little we will chip away at the barriers that prevent better walking areas and then see them installed. Time and patience - two words with which we will become very friendly.
Another big and wonderful project was the installation of benches and game tables throughout our community. Often when you go to a park or trail, there are benches with no backs or simply no benches at all. If a person plans to spend some time at the park, visiting, picnicking, or watching kids play, backs get tired without support. This gave the Age- and Dementia-Friendly Winnemucca Project a goal: benches with backs placed strategically around town.
Good, sturdy benches are pricey. Even though we ordered 10 in bulk, with the same Winnemucca Centennial logo on the back, each came to total of $1266. But they are beautiful. The game tables are equally as gorgeous - polished red or tan granite with a checker board/chess board game table etched into each (and also very expensive!). We had these designed with a stool on opposite sides, leaving room for wheelchairs or lawn chairs on the other two sides. The tables and benches can now be found in our parks, along the Haskell Street walkway, and you'll even spy a table and a bench in Denio, Nevada, a community 100 miles northwest of Winnemucca. As Denio set to open its new library, we thought how perfect! A bench and a table for a wonderful grand opening in one of our rural towns.
The biggest problem with the tables and benches - and one that I learned the hard way? Payment. I had people stop me on the street, grab me aside at meetings, call me on the phone, and send email requests: "Please order a bench/table for me/our family!" A believer and one who complies, I ordered these and then surprise! Some folks had changed their minds and no longer wanted to invest in our project. As a result I scurried about town, made phone calls and pleas, and also tossed extra cash into the kitty to pay our bill. Again, lesson learned: "Show me the money!" before I will order even the simplest item.
Sunday, March 25, 2018
Tuesday, March 20, 2018
Outdoor Buildings, Structures, and Spaces
The second area that Age- and Dementia-Friendly Winnemucca studied was our outdoor buildings and spaces. Are they accessible? Is there adequate seating for all individuals (those with wheelchairs, walkers, strollers, etc.)? Are there enough handrails? Is there good lighting? The questions go on and on and inspection of our spaces provided us with excellent insight and guidance.
If buildings and structures are related to the government, they are naturally up-to-code and sometimes they are even beyond code such as pedestrian crossings that have audio as well as visual capacity. Other buildings and structures, may not be up to code as they have been "grandfathered in" or are not required to comply with accessibility rules. That is where education becomes so important.
For example, sidewalks. We have lots of sidewalks throughout our city, however, some are in disrepair. Some run in front of one building or home and then not the next making for difficult walking. As a homeowner, I can decide to get the sidewalk fixed at a fairly minimal cost, especially if I am fit enough and have a friendly work team to help me get the job done. With city sidewalks, though, there are requirements for width, depth, design, and so forth, and thus some sidewalks are in a shambles. Making businesses aware of this (as if they did not already know!) was one project goal; the second was informing the city of our project team concern.
Of course, repair all boils down to funding and it seems government entities are always short of cash. Our job then became to remind and remind and remind the city council and others how important good sidewalks are to a livable, walkable community.
Slowly, the idea is brewing. Requirements for new homes include sidewalks and it is the hope that when neighbors see these lovely sidewalks, they will want one, too. That's a start. The second is designating walkways for exercise, fitness, and fun. One of these is from Larios Arms, a senior living community, to the Community Garden. Inside the garden we are planning a circular walkway as well. Simple, doable, and important.
The second walkway project is bigger and will include an exercise pad. Pads are expensive so lots of talking and legwork are in order. But with an idea and a plan, I know we will achieve success.
If buildings and structures are related to the government, they are naturally up-to-code and sometimes they are even beyond code such as pedestrian crossings that have audio as well as visual capacity. Other buildings and structures, may not be up to code as they have been "grandfathered in" or are not required to comply with accessibility rules. That is where education becomes so important.
For example, sidewalks. We have lots of sidewalks throughout our city, however, some are in disrepair. Some run in front of one building or home and then not the next making for difficult walking. As a homeowner, I can decide to get the sidewalk fixed at a fairly minimal cost, especially if I am fit enough and have a friendly work team to help me get the job done. With city sidewalks, though, there are requirements for width, depth, design, and so forth, and thus some sidewalks are in a shambles. Making businesses aware of this (as if they did not already know!) was one project goal; the second was informing the city of our project team concern.
Of course, repair all boils down to funding and it seems government entities are always short of cash. Our job then became to remind and remind and remind the city council and others how important good sidewalks are to a livable, walkable community.
Slowly, the idea is brewing. Requirements for new homes include sidewalks and it is the hope that when neighbors see these lovely sidewalks, they will want one, too. That's a start. The second is designating walkways for exercise, fitness, and fun. One of these is from Larios Arms, a senior living community, to the Community Garden. Inside the garden we are planning a circular walkway as well. Simple, doable, and important.
The second walkway project is bigger and will include an exercise pad. Pads are expensive so lots of talking and legwork are in order. But with an idea and a plan, I know we will achieve success.
Sunday, March 11, 2018
Transportation Ideas to Implement in Your Community
The first steps for Winnemucca in our discussion about transportation was to run a survey: what's available; when is it available; is there a cost; where does it go; what else do riders need to know?
We learned that the Senior Center bus runs Monday through Friday during business hours and that riders can go just about anywhere in the city for a nominal fee.
One problem includes the fact that riders must be able to get out to the curb by their homes for the bus to pick them up and when they exit the bus, they need to be able to navigate on their own.
Of course, many who want to ride the bus have limited mobility. They cannot meet at the curb as, for example, their sidewalk is steep and has cracks, the wheelchair and/or walker are difficult to manipulate, in climate weather makes waiting outside for the bus hard, and so getting to and waiting at the curb become impossible.
Our solution: A concierge service assists riders. Seniors can phone the senior center to learn when the "Concierge" will be riding the bus. The Concierge helps with entry and exit as well as helping the individual into his/her home.
Another problem: Riding the bus to downtown shops and then finding that there are no parking spots for the senior bus to pull over and load or unload passengers. The bus cannot block traffic and passengers cannot just be set free in the street.
Our solution: An accessible space large enough for the bus has been designated downtown so that now the bus can park in a convenient spot for all passengers.
A third problem: Insurance rates for cars are expensive plus as drivers age, some of the rules-of-the road have changed or have been forgotten.
Our solution: A volunteer who became a trained instructor with AARP teaches the fundamentals class, helps seniors review critical driving topics, and assists those who have completed the course to report it to insurance companies for a small discount in the rate.
Finally, we faced letting everyone know about all of the wonderful services offered in Winnemucca and Humboldt County.
Our solution: We created a booklet full of pertinent information, we added a monthly blurb in our local newspaper about services and upcoming events, we worked with our local radio station to disiminate information, and we had a website designed: www.adf-winnemucca.com
We learned that the Senior Center bus runs Monday through Friday during business hours and that riders can go just about anywhere in the city for a nominal fee.
One problem includes the fact that riders must be able to get out to the curb by their homes for the bus to pick them up and when they exit the bus, they need to be able to navigate on their own.
Of course, many who want to ride the bus have limited mobility. They cannot meet at the curb as, for example, their sidewalk is steep and has cracks, the wheelchair and/or walker are difficult to manipulate, in climate weather makes waiting outside for the bus hard, and so getting to and waiting at the curb become impossible.
Our solution: A concierge service assists riders. Seniors can phone the senior center to learn when the "Concierge" will be riding the bus. The Concierge helps with entry and exit as well as helping the individual into his/her home.
Another problem: Riding the bus to downtown shops and then finding that there are no parking spots for the senior bus to pull over and load or unload passengers. The bus cannot block traffic and passengers cannot just be set free in the street.
Our solution: An accessible space large enough for the bus has been designated downtown so that now the bus can park in a convenient spot for all passengers.
A third problem: Insurance rates for cars are expensive plus as drivers age, some of the rules-of-the road have changed or have been forgotten.
Our solution: A volunteer who became a trained instructor with AARP teaches the fundamentals class, helps seniors review critical driving topics, and assists those who have completed the course to report it to insurance companies for a small discount in the rate.
Finally, we faced letting everyone know about all of the wonderful services offered in Winnemucca and Humboldt County.
Our solution: We created a booklet full of pertinent information, we added a monthly blurb in our local newspaper about services and upcoming events, we worked with our local radio station to disiminate information, and we had a website designed: www.adf-winnemucca.com
Friday, March 9, 2018
Back to Age-Friendly - Transportation
The last few posts have focused on de-stressing - if that is truly possible in our very busy lives. Knowing that stress leads to many mental and physical health problems, addressing it is of absolute value. Hopefully with your planner in order, with notes marking every item as Vital, Important, Tabled, and Eliminate, some free time should have been freed up and some stress should have been de-stressed.
Age-friendly communities focus on creating a perfect environment for every individual, regardless of age, physical or cognitive challenges, or health issues. Good facilities with good homes along with good activities and opportunities make for a good community.
Winnemucca and Humboldt began the age-friendly pursuit over two years ago and we have made tremendous progress. Beginning with driving and dementia, the team realized that taking a driver's license away is not a solution. In fact it may aggravate a problem. As a result our team investigated the various means of transportation in our community and then got the contact information into the hands of those who need it. We surveyed and then added:
1. an accessible parking space large enough for the senior bus in busy, downtown shopping area;
2. a concierge service to help those in need when traveling on the senior bus;
3. a trained, AARP driver's education instructor to help seniors review keys points of driving to help them always drive with due care;
4. advertisement about the diverse means of transportation in our community: senior bus, veteran's services, RSVP services, NET driving services, and taxi services are several of these.
We are fortunate to have a community that cares and is ready to remedy transportation problems.
Age-friendly communities focus on creating a perfect environment for every individual, regardless of age, physical or cognitive challenges, or health issues. Good facilities with good homes along with good activities and opportunities make for a good community.
Winnemucca and Humboldt began the age-friendly pursuit over two years ago and we have made tremendous progress. Beginning with driving and dementia, the team realized that taking a driver's license away is not a solution. In fact it may aggravate a problem. As a result our team investigated the various means of transportation in our community and then got the contact information into the hands of those who need it. We surveyed and then added:
1. an accessible parking space large enough for the senior bus in busy, downtown shopping area;
2. a concierge service to help those in need when traveling on the senior bus;
3. a trained, AARP driver's education instructor to help seniors review keys points of driving to help them always drive with due care;
4. advertisement about the diverse means of transportation in our community: senior bus, veteran's services, RSVP services, NET driving services, and taxi services are several of these.
We are fortunate to have a community that cares and is ready to remedy transportation problems.
Thursday, March 8, 2018
Important Is Under Control; Let's Move to Table and Eliminate
Every step along the pathway to clearing up unwanted and unnecessary stress is of absolute value. The Do-It-Now stuff simply has to be done. These are VITAL to your success and well-being. Remember that if one of these tasks can be complete in 1-2 minutes and you have 1-2 minutes at hand, take care of it now. It is such an empowering feeling to recognize a vital task, address it, and solve it. Voila! And even better is the swift crossing of this off the list with a wild, carefree line.
Other VITAL items require more time and so should be scheduled into your planner with the appropriate time allotment slotted, plus half that time again. Most VITAL tasks take more time than you are planning on so this way you have already planned ahead AND you can achieve success with this VITAL item. Another cross-out is coming your way.
IMPORTANT items need to be completed, but they are not immediately critical. Thus you have time to step back, study your schedule, and then jot them into the planner. The most valuable step in completing these items is when the appointed time arrives, just do it! Do not wait, move, table, or ho-hum it. Take care of it now.
So now comes two of the best, most invigorating stress relievers - TABLE it because it is just not that important; and even more fun - ELIMINATE it. On the latter, you probably did not want to do it in the first place and now you have the extreme pleasure of tossing it into a garbage forever! Hurray. This elimination process may happen with TABLEd items as well. If the tabling time arises and you have no desire to see it through - chuck it with crazy abandon and be done.
Other VITAL items require more time and so should be scheduled into your planner with the appropriate time allotment slotted, plus half that time again. Most VITAL tasks take more time than you are planning on so this way you have already planned ahead AND you can achieve success with this VITAL item. Another cross-out is coming your way.
IMPORTANT items need to be completed, but they are not immediately critical. Thus you have time to step back, study your schedule, and then jot them into the planner. The most valuable step in completing these items is when the appointed time arrives, just do it! Do not wait, move, table, or ho-hum it. Take care of it now.
So now comes two of the best, most invigorating stress relievers - TABLE it because it is just not that important; and even more fun - ELIMINATE it. On the latter, you probably did not want to do it in the first place and now you have the extreme pleasure of tossing it into a garbage forever! Hurray. This elimination process may happen with TABLEd items as well. If the tabling time arises and you have no desire to see it through - chuck it with crazy abandon and be done.
Monday, March 5, 2018
Moving to What's Important
I trust that you have attended to all of the VITAL items in your planner - bills to pay, phone calls to make, meetings to attend, cookies to bake - all of the absolutely must do responsibilities that pile into life. This may also include the 1-2 minute items that I mentioned in my last post. These are must-dos that can be put off, but since they are a quick fix, it is best to take care of them now during a pause, while you remember them and also so that you can cross them off the to-do list. Crossing off is a powerful, empowering physical and mental movement.
Now for the items on your list that are IMPORTANT. You must do them, need to do them, are going to do them, however, they are not immediately essential. Tomorrow works and so does next week. This might be a bill coming due, an assignment to complete, or a part of the house or garage that needs cleaning up or repair. If they are on the IMPORTANT list, they must be done in a timely manner, just not so soon or in such a way that the crunch gets the best of you. If you discover that you are putting these tasks off again and again, it is time to re-evaluate the significance of the item. Is it really important, a must do? If so, immediately relabel it VITAL. If can it be shuffled to the the TABLED section of your planner, do so. Paying property taxes might fall into this latter category - they are vital, and important, but taxes come due at varying intervals throughout the year. If you just paid in March, the next taxes are not due until August so you have months before payment comes due. Take a breath - July is ample time to get this critical tax paid.
The next blog will compare IMPORTANT and TABLED, the value of each and the pitfalls that you might incur. For today, examine the IMPORTANT items of this week, determine when and how you will accomplish each, and solemnly swear just get them done.
Now for the items on your list that are IMPORTANT. You must do them, need to do them, are going to do them, however, they are not immediately essential. Tomorrow works and so does next week. This might be a bill coming due, an assignment to complete, or a part of the house or garage that needs cleaning up or repair. If they are on the IMPORTANT list, they must be done in a timely manner, just not so soon or in such a way that the crunch gets the best of you. If you discover that you are putting these tasks off again and again, it is time to re-evaluate the significance of the item. Is it really important, a must do? If so, immediately relabel it VITAL. If can it be shuffled to the the TABLED section of your planner, do so. Paying property taxes might fall into this latter category - they are vital, and important, but taxes come due at varying intervals throughout the year. If you just paid in March, the next taxes are not due until August so you have months before payment comes due. Take a breath - July is ample time to get this critical tax paid.
The next blog will compare IMPORTANT and TABLED, the value of each and the pitfalls that you might incur. For today, examine the IMPORTANT items of this week, determine when and how you will accomplish each, and solemnly swear just get them done.
Thursday, March 1, 2018
VITE! Vital Things to Take Care of NOW!
Vite is the command "Fast" in French. Vite, vite, vite - hop to it. That is one reason the V in Vital is so valuable. If it's got to get done, do it now. Do not wait or hesitate, attend to it so that you can check-mark it off the list and move on to other important tasks.
A few years ago my niece recommended that I read The Happiness Project. Being obedient, and figuring I might gain terrific insight, I obeyed orders and read it. Far from making me happy, this book just irritated me. The advice may have brought joy to some, but for me it was sheer frustration. Frustration, that is, except for one small part. Basically stated, this section of the book explained tiny projects or responsibilities, those that can be completed in one or two minutes. For example, tomorrow is garbage day, I know it is garbage day, I plan for garbage day so that all of my toss-outs are assembled and ready for disposal. As I am walking down the stairs I spy a garbage bin that I have inadvertently missed. I am confronted with 3 choices:
1. Ignore it - I can always throw it out another day;
2. Make a note to self - "Next time you walk by, grab that trash and get rid of it;
3. Attend to it now - This is a 2 minutes or less job and if I take care of business now, I will not have to come back to it later. Case closed; responsibility completed.
And in less than 2 minutes, this vital job is dispensed with and done for a day or two, or maybe until next garbage day.
Return to your planner today. Think about all of the projects that you have marked V - Vital. Circle the ones that can be completed in 2 minutes or less and have to, heave ho, go for it! Perhaps this will bring you happiness, or at least an inkling of success.
A few years ago my niece recommended that I read The Happiness Project. Being obedient, and figuring I might gain terrific insight, I obeyed orders and read it. Far from making me happy, this book just irritated me. The advice may have brought joy to some, but for me it was sheer frustration. Frustration, that is, except for one small part. Basically stated, this section of the book explained tiny projects or responsibilities, those that can be completed in one or two minutes. For example, tomorrow is garbage day, I know it is garbage day, I plan for garbage day so that all of my toss-outs are assembled and ready for disposal. As I am walking down the stairs I spy a garbage bin that I have inadvertently missed. I am confronted with 3 choices:
1. Ignore it - I can always throw it out another day;
2. Make a note to self - "Next time you walk by, grab that trash and get rid of it;
3. Attend to it now - This is a 2 minutes or less job and if I take care of business now, I will not have to come back to it later. Case closed; responsibility completed.
And in less than 2 minutes, this vital job is dispensed with and done for a day or two, or maybe until next garbage day.
Return to your planner today. Think about all of the projects that you have marked V - Vital. Circle the ones that can be completed in 2 minutes or less and have to, heave ho, go for it! Perhaps this will bring you happiness, or at least an inkling of success.
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