Helping Residents Help Themselves and Others

05/31/2005

Atlantic City, New Jersey—By age 65 most people’s thoughts have turned to retirement—spending more time in the garden, on the road, or with family and friends. But recent surveys show that older Americans no longer view retirement as an endless vacation because they choose to work or become more involved in public service. A recent survey conducted by the American Association of Retired People (AARP) showed that nearly half of all pre-retirees expect to continue working into their 70s or longer. The most common reasons given for wanting to continue to work include the desire to stay mentally active (87 percent) and to remain productive or useful (77 percent). And even if they are not working for a paycheck, older Americans are giving back to their communities through volunteering. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Americans age 65 and older contributed more than 2.7 billion hours of time as volunteers for community activities. This trend to remain active—for financial or personal reasons—is certainly reflected by the residents at Atlantic Townehouse Neighborhood Networks Center, a 175-unit senior citizen property in Atlantic City, New Jersey. A Working Retirement—for Money or Personal Fulfillment Through community partnerships and thoughtful program planning, the Atlantic Townehouse Neighborhood Networks Center is helping residents remain active and continue to work or volunteer throughout the community. Some of the more active programs include: Computer skills. Because many jobs require computer skills, the center holds demonstrations to entice residents to take computer classes. In this manner, the center helps residents who want to continue to work or re-enter the job market. “Many senior citizens have anxiety about using computers,” said Michelle Fields, resident services supervisor, “so we make these events fun and offer refreshments to encourage people to come to the computer lab. To publicize the event, we send flyers and e-mails to our own residents and to several nearby senior properties.” Employment opportunities. The center enjoys a partnership with Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital that provides a $100 monthly stipend to residents who assist their more frail neighbors with simple tasks, such as grocery shopping and light housekeeping. Atlantic City Mayor Lorenzo Langford’s office also works with the center to find jobs for residents who want to work. Several residents are working at nearby hotels and other businesses as coatroom checkers, housekeepers, and cashiers. Volunteer opportunities. Several residents serve as volunteer grannies in the public schools, helping teachers, and interacting with the students. Residents walk to the nearby elementary school and volunteer two or three times per week. According to Fields, residents offer more than helping students with reading and arithmetic. They also teach the children about old-time values. Nearly 20 million older Americans continue to work and volunteer each year. The residents at the Atlantic Townehouse Neighborhood Networks Center share this desire to remain active—knowing they have much more to contribute to their community. The Atlantic Townehouse Neighborhood Networks Center is helping them enrich their own lives as well as those of community members around them. For more information about Neighborhood Networks centers in New Jersey, contact: Pamela Breitenbach U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development--Newark Office One Newark Center, 13th Floor Newark, NJ 07102 Phone: (973) 622-7900, ext. 3410 E-mail: Pamela_m._brietenbach@hud.gov For more information about Atlantic City Townehouse Neighborhood Networks Center, contact: Emelda Johnson, Center Director Michelle Fields, Resident Services Supervisor Atlantic City Townehouse Neighborhood Networks Center 1330 Mediterranean Avenue Atlantic City, NJ 08401 Phone: (609) 348-9001 E-mail: pmichelle200@yahoo.com

Center(s) Highlighted or Profiled:	Atlantic City Townehouse Neighborhood Networks Center
Scope:	National

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