Community Corner

Seniors Can 'Stay At Home in Wilton'

A new non-profit organization focused on helping local seniors is set to launch in Wilton in the coming months.

"Stay at Home in Wilton" is an odd title for this budding organization because, really, it encourages seniors to do anything but.

Organized by a number of local community leaders and volunteers, the group will focus on providing a range of services to the elderly, including household repairs, transportation, organizational events and a host of others.  Based off the successful "Staying Put in New Canaan" blueprint, "Stay at Home in Wilton" plans to be incorporated as a nonprofit charity and will likely start its operations in early 2010.

"The impetus for putting this together was that we saw other communities doing it and it seemed like it was something that was needed in Wilton," said Phil Richards, one of the founders. "It's worked very successfully in many areas, like New Canaan; they've been doing this for a year and they have several hundred people who use the service."

Find out what's happening in Wiltonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The group will be funded entirely by modest membership fees and by grant money and donations provided by the community.  It is still in the planning stages and any and all who are interested are encouraged to attend an October 5 meeting at 2 p.m. in the Wilton Library, including those who wish to volunteer or help raise funds.

"The other aspect of it that's important is that it's a social organization," Richards said. "We will get members together to do various social activities and help people enjoy their senior years, so to speak, which they might not otherwise do if they couldn't get out of their house."

Find out what's happening in Wiltonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

There are currently a few rideshare and transportation services available for seniors in Wilton and "Stay at Home" will be working closely with these to coordinate schedules and provide coverage where these services cannot.  There will be a centralized phone number and a coordinator who answers calls and directs the organization's resources appropriately to help serve the needs of the request.

Anne and Phil Richards, Chris and Ken Dartley, Kay Chann, Jacki and Ron Gulick, Barbara Quincy, Sally Poundstone, Sonja and Don Drummond and Joan Starr are all helping to put the group together.

Those with questions can visit the group's Web site www.stayathomeinwilton.org or call 203-763-3950.  Residents are encouraged to register for the Oct. 5 meeting.


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