‘Village Movement’ aims to bring Hilltop neighborhood seniors together

By Ted Hart

The “village movement” is coming to the Hilltop. It’s a concept that’s quickly spreading across the country – membership networks of older residents to share their services and their friendship with another. The goal is to help aging residents live in their own homes as long as possible.

Columbus already has three existing “village” organizations: At Home by High I the Short North, Village Connections in German Village and Village in the Ville in Clintonville.

Residents who join the “village” decide what services to prioritize. They range from transportation to household chores.

The neighborhood organizations also create ways for residents to make new friends. That’s what appeals most to 77 year Judy Balson who bought a house on the Hilltop three years ago. “To put it simply, I would really like to become friends of people who I can go help,” Balson said. “I would like to be able to help those who want to age at home”

Balson says she grew up in Franklinton and then moved away from Ohio. She decided to move back and try to have an impact on bring the Hilltop neighborhood back to what it once was. “It needs help and I don’t know that people my age are going to be the ones that do it,” Balson said.  “I just had an idea it would be more settled and I would have more communication and more like-minded people but I haven’t discovered that.”

“The neighborhood doesn’t seem friendly to begin with and I think that’s what we need to be about to put ourselves out to those who can latch on to it or say, I’m not interested.”

Typically “village” organization charge membership dues for those who can afford to pay. The Hilltop Village will be free and will be headquartered at the Greater Hilltop Area Shalom Zone.