Sea Macleish moved to Lancaster as a single parent of four daughters in 1988. As time passed and her children moved to their own homes, she stayed in the same downtown location, enjoying having the space to entertain family and friends.
SOLO AGERS S
ea says, “I love my home and plan to live there as long as I can. However, during the pandemic, I realized the importance of being socially engaged and was looking for ways to
get back into the community and interact with peers. Te hardest part of being single as you age is the reality of making all your decisions on your own. I was missing the ability to connect with those my age who were in similar life situations.”
When she found out about Lancaster Downtowners and joined, she was ecstatic. “All the experiences I have had with this group have been terrific,” she says. “It really is a great aid to aging in place.”
Sea was particularly drawn to the Solo Agers group. Te group focuses on situations faced by many people living alone, like finances, cooking for one, travel and how someone can stay in their home. Tey also help people find meaningful connections. Te group’s informational meetings, times for sharing and lots of activities appeal to a wide variety of people. “As soon as I started going to these meetings, I not only learned from the speakers, but also began developing friendships that resonated with me,” says Sea.
She is clear that it is really about the people. “Often someone will send out a note about taking a hike and people just come together.”
Since discovering how important connecting is in wellness, Sea has opened up her home and holds creative art times. “Sharing art, something I love, allows me to feel engaged and needed. People who had never tried art, or didn’t think they could do it, went home not only with art, but with a time of connection and fun.”
Melissa Ressler, Executive Director of Lancaster Downtowners, is not surprised by Sea’s experiences. She notes, “Village networks like the Lancaster Downtowners can serve not only as a point of connection and community for solo agers, but also as a resource. We are designed for this! Volunteers within the membership help others with everyday needs, like providing transportation to and from appointments, and the village network is a conduit to other resources - like care navigators or estate executors - who might also be needed to support a member.”
Lancaster Downtowners is an independent non-profit organization that engages in a collaborative partnership with Landis Communities via a Management Services Agreement to facilitate office space, Human Resources for staff, and consultation with select centralized services.
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Landis.org | FLOURISH | Fall 2023
CULTIVATING GROWTH
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