Our Cafes for community-dwelling older adults are very vibrant places to visit. It’s great that all the hard work of our Community Initiatives staff gets some recognition and on such an important topic – reducing the social isolation of older adults. Congratulations! You truly have created great spaces for older adults to age well!
Link to Washington Post Article
“They are not going to go softly into the night,” says Victoria M. Rizzo of the Columbia University School of Social Work, who has spent decades working with older adults. “These baby boomers are not going to go to the senior center, unless it’s a new breed.”
Mather’s — More Than a Cafe is just that: three diner-inspired restaurants that double as community centers for aging Chicagoans, complete with computer and art classes, social events, and health and fitness programs. Mather LifeWays, the nonprofit organization that developed the concept, has helped other groups across the country create similar gathering spots. The Internet could serve a similar purpose. Boomers’ Web-savvy ways may give e-mail, instant messaging and Skype a critical role in increasing social interaction, especially for the homebound.