Where is permaculture for the elderly?

I wonder how this ties in to lowering birth rates and smaller families.   Theoretically that could leave many elders with a very small pool of help/care into elder years.  My ex and I, for example only had one child.    She has no children.   I can't imagine her attempting to meet our care needs on her own even partially.  That is a much different scenario than when it was the "norm" for a couple to have multiple children, with ever expanding number of grandchildren.  I guess that is when community needs to somehow replace biological family.   We are so monetary focussed here in the US the solution always seems to be throwing more money at "services" and squeezing in as many people for the smallest bottom line possible.  It's not a good model when we look at quality of life/end of life.

My approach is toward a sustainable community, there should be more than one of these coming into being, with more independence, to grow to, from civilization that is around virtually everywhere. For it to be sustainable in fact with subsistence living with what is on the land the community uses, growing all useful things those there can, it needs to have accommodation for the elderly there, as it should continue with sustainability, and all do age, I will age and grow less able with being elderly, however well I take care of myself, as I do. Communities of humanity always continued this way, before civilization and in places apart from civilization, it is important to our continuation, and there is contribution to structure with this way.

We bought our property out in the sticks for a few reasons. The small subdivision we lived in wasn't bad as far as the CCRs went. It was the clique of the first people who built there. We got tired of the constant whining and complaining and 'special treatment '.

The codo we had owned was not as bad, but you have to deal with other residents on a closer basis. No yards in between. Just walls. Nice large yard areas that kids weren't allowed to play in. And they weren't allowed to play in the parking area. Why allow kids?

Out here on our acreage we went solar. While we were building we seriously considered hooking up to the grid. That got nixed because  it was an electric co-op and their requirements are ridiculous. We considered it a couple more times and just couldn't bring ourselves to sign that agreement.

When we first came to the state we checked out one of those all-in-one communities.  But you have no choice but to pay-in to all the services and if you're not a people person forget it. They assured us we would learn to love the social gatherings etc. They're fun! Even group trips! WHATever!

So being older and retired we didn't want to be locked in to anybody's rules and regs and lifetime fees. Ugh! We wanted peace and quiet and nobody for the most part telling us what to do. There is the county though.

If you're old enough to remember communes, they worked pretty well. But my idea of a modified elderly commune would be like mentioned above. A version of tiny homes but not so tiny and everyone owns their own lot. Whether that lot is acres or just a lot.

People change. People may have friends that aren't so desirable. Having rules can eliminate certain issues but can also cause problems. So we moved into a very small rural farming community.  And it's awesome.

All of our neighbors stopped by to say hi when they'd catch us outside. We had a mechanical issue and were pulled off the road with our heads under the hood. 6 different people stopped and asked if we were OK or needed help..

Nobody bothers us and they don't expect to have a midday coffee clatch. We all have work to do or want to be left alone! It's grand.

K Carpenter wrote:We bought our property out in the sticks for a few reasons.  
...
All of our neighbors stopped by to say hi when they'd catch us outside. We had a mechanical issue and were pulled off the road with our heads under the hood. 6 different people stopped and asked if we were OK or needed help..
Nobody bothers us and they don't expect to have a midday coffee clatch. We all have work to do or want to be left alone! It's grand.

This is very much like where I live and the reason I never want to leave here.  In my case people respect my desire for privacy and don't come visiting without knowing it's OK by me.  Not long after we moved here, my truck broke down on a back road and after an hour some guys stopped to see what help I needed and ended up driving me 17 miles out of their way to drop me off at my door.  They were complete strangers to me at the time.  Nobody thought it was an unusual thing to do.

This lovely community grew organically, though I took it upon myself to start a Facebook group for just the people who live in our area -- basically that's anyone within about a 100 square mile area.  There are 36 people in the group including me.  People share stuff like weather warnings, photos, lost dogs, who wants some zuccini or who'd got eggs for sale, is the phone down for everybody or only a few, anybody willing to come over with a tractor to move some dirt, etc.  

Most of us are senior citizens, but lately some younger people have moved in.  I hope they stay.  

[photo is just because I like sharing my photography]

Thinking about the inevitable deterioration of strength and eventual mortality. Just how many seasons/gardens are there going to be. When in my thirties It was far in the future. As i age my gardens will get smaller, I imagine. I hope that my efforts in applying some of the things I have learned here and from others make or has made the effort of living easier, so that might help stretch it out a bit.  When I think about how many growing seasons are left for me I realize I need to double my efforts.

Robert Ray, I surely hear you. At sixty I retired and bought twenty acres for my forever home. As I work on transforming our woodland into a place for humans to live along with everything else, I am very much aware that many of my plans are unlikely to mature within my time here. Sometimes that can be a difficult thought. Mostly it’s a reason to ramp up tree planting ;)

Lif Strand wrote:

K Carpenter wrote:We bought our property out in the sticks for a few reasons.  
...
All of our neighbors stopped by to say hi when they'd catch us outside. We had a mechanical issue and were pulled off the road with our heads under the hood. 6 different people stopped and asked if we were OK or needed help..
Nobody bothers us and they don't expect to have a midday coffee clatch. We all have work to do or want to be left alone! It's grand.

This is very much like where I live and the reason I never want to leave here.  In my case people respect my desire for privacy and don't come visiting without knowing it's OK by me.  Not long after we moved here, my truck broke down on a back road and after an hour some guys stopped to see what help I needed and ended up driving me 17 miles out of their way to drop me off at my door.  They were complete strangers to me at the time.  Nobody thought it was an unusual thing to do.

This lovely community grew organically, though I took it upon myself to start a Facebook group for just the people who live in our area -- basically that's anyone within about a 100 square mile area.  There are 36 people in the group including me.  People share stuff like weather warnings, photos, lost dogs, who wants some zuccini or who'd got eggs for sale, is the phone down for everybody or only a few, anybody willing to come over with a tractor to move some dirt, etc.  

Most of us are senior citizens, but lately some younger people have moved in.  I hope they stay.  

[photo is just because I like sharing my photography]

Heading to NM next week looking for some property for me and some friends.  Am interested in your FB group and any insights you can pass on about NM living.

Dave

I want for a community what human communities had from the earliest, people of different generations integrated, not younger and not older segregated to their own community, and all in a community working together and being a help to others in their community as they have needs, which will happen to any. This is how to have a community.

Nice thread. Why did it stop?

did tis ever get off the ground?

Do you know if this ever got off the ground?
Andrea

I am 63 almost 64.  I didn't "infect" any of my now adult children with my love of nature, gardening, farming etc etc.  My grands are 2, 3, and 6...so who knows if they will be a helper someday.  If they follow their parents' paths we won't see help from them either.  I don't mean to be hopeless - but I'm thinking I/we (my hubby) will need to find younger people to live on our farm and help us as their "rent".  

roberta mccanse wrote:I don't see a lot of input here from actual "elders". At 77 I may or may not be old. I may or may not become burden but I am doing my level best not to become one. I am fortunate not to have diabetes, cancer, or serious heart disease, some hypertension not withstanding. On the other hand I work hard at staying healthy, go to the gym for Zumba and other exercise at least two or three days a week, volunteer at the local animal shelter on alternate days. I mostly eat what I should, floss my teeth, and walk the dog a couple of times a day.

I intend to age in place and to that end my home has no stairs, halls and doorways are at least 36 inches wide, doors have handles rather than knobs, toilets are raised, I had wall sockets placed 18 inches above the floor, and my dishwasher is also elevated about 11 inches.

My point is that I take seriously my responsibility to remain as healthy aand independent as possible. I also take seriously my responsibility to provide my far flung family with a place where they can live sustainably as our climate warms. My home is earth sheltered, I heat easily with wood stay cool in summer, and I garden on the roof. I am planting fruit trees and sturdy But Oak.

My original plan was to enslave a grandchild who would learn to love the woods and wildlife that surround me. So far no go. On the other hand my adult children are beginning to lean toward being here as they themselves grow older. They are drawn to the natural beauty here, we have mountains and water. A daughter and husband plan on building in a year or so. A son-in-law will build a few year after. An additional well or two will make me feel better about water security.

The kids put in two cords of wood for me. That should get me through most of the winter. I suspect that they decided that they'd better keep the old lady warm "or she'll end up in Florida with us". Ha. I guess that I can handle spending some time in a warmer place part of the year, especially during March and spring breakup. But the dogs are coming along.

We used to think that people over 80 were the oldest old. This is no longer the case. Although it's been awhile since I was middle aged I sort of wonder what happened to my sixties. So all in all I have decided that old is as old does. Certainly we can't control everything that happens to us as we age but we had darn well better take as much responsibility as we can for the rest of it.

I thought about an intentional dry community for all ages out in the boondocks where getting the crutch of choice is logistically implausible

Elderly members could be the social support system and younger members could be truly needed, appreciated, and keep things rolling ahead

A few key members could do any supply running

Being remote, they could be exempt from the no contact regulations put in place during COVID
And alternately pre register before COVID 2.0 as a quarantine site and have some tiny homes set up if someone gets sick, or for visitors coming in

Edit: my current location although remote enough that there was no COVID, and there are no gas stations, stores, or public transportation and it is very expensive and time consuming to go to town and buy supplies, it is still not remote enough to be a dry community and is not big enough.
However, I plan on giving back my land to métis / original peoples with a life clause that allows me to stay on and have a room and share facilities
That way, if I do end up relocating I could bring some perennials
I can guarantee the virgin forest stays that way

Elon is touting preFab pods <$10K
The general scenario has some energy sustainable type features...
His PARTNER company has several that look easily adaptable as to general appearances, could be 'rusticated' etc
 put solar, filtering, eco friendly materials into the idea and it could be something we seniors would like
  native Americans are already doing this, as being sovereign and not necessarily subject to the arm twisting of current USA status quo moneyMill demands on our aging population.

Nora Ewer wrote:Has anyone heard of an alternative to assisted living/nursing homes/ etc. incorporating permaculture methods?
I find the concept of an elderly village very interesting. Although I am just 19, caring part time for my great grandmother has encouraged me to think about this. I am glad that my family has been able to care for her, because it allows her to participate in normal activities. Many nursing homes seem very isolated. I have read about some elderly villages that are like small towns. They allow for more autonomy. However, they are very expensive. It would be wonderful if there were ways for the residents to bring down costs. For example, they could have gardens to reduce the cost of food.
I don't know how feasible this is, but I would love to hear ideas! Considering a career working with the elderly in some way.

From what I understand the best ways to do this is to do a skip type of thing were you get someone that knows what they are doing onto your land to live with you and put them in your will in return under the condition they take care of you and help you. The only other place I’v heard about this sort of thing is where there were communities started by young folk and then they grew up, had families, and when they were old geezerds the people still living there along with their very own kids continued to take care of them.

But then again, I havn’t thought much about it as a broke college student.

David A. Smith wrote:

Heading to NM next week looking for some property for me and some friends.  Am interested in your FB group and any insights you can pass on about NM living.

Dave

I aplogize for not replying when you posted this question. If you are still interested, please post the question here again.

Our permaculture for the elderly has been very successful so far. After a few years of living with us at our small place in the country, my father died peacefully in his sleep here at age 94.  Now my husband and I are making plans for our own aging in place. We  plan to put the land in trust and after a few years invite younger people to move here so we can pass the land on to them.