Efforts Continue To Make Reston Better For All Ages

The Reston for a Lifetime initiative continues to move forward.  This weekend was a featured panel member at the .  In addition, we have been featured at an AARP meeting, and will be featured at The Federation Fairfax meeting later this week.  Surrounding communities are definitely taking an interest in what we are doing here.

On the home front, our last monthly meeting of the Reston for a Lifetime initiative offered some lively discussion on a variety of topics last week, in spite of the weather.  Here is a brief overview:

How to afford living in Reston for a Lifetime?  Brent Derobertis provided an overview of the Oct. 1 educational seminar on this topic.  Many who attended provided thought-provoking feedback, those who didn’t were curious when a similar event would be held.  Fortunately, Reston for a Lifetime has partnered with Reston Community Center to provide follow up seminars in the Spring. Keep your eye out for your RCC catalog to register.

On attendee asked about discounts on Internet and Cable TV, which started a discussion about creating a system of organizing “senior” discounts in Reston.

Neighborhood Networks – An important initiative of the Reston for a Lifetime movement is to create systems to better connect neighbors and neighborhoods.  It’s through better connections that we can create safer neighborhoods, share resources and information, and make friends!  Several neighborhood pilot projects are beginning to see progress.  Development of neighborhood phone books, neighborhood watches, and neighborhood gatherings are just a few of the important steps being taken.

If you would like help making your neighborhood better connected, we would love to help, just email aginginreston@gmail.com or attend one of our monthly meetings.

Projects  - The Reston for a Lifetime initiative continues to focus on some interesting projects, a few that were discussed include:

• Playground for a Lifetime – After a September presentation from Playworld Systems on creating a playground for all ages we have identified some other vendors who will be invited in to present.  This project continues to fascinate everyone – there is a lot of passion to create something unique that promotes playing for a lifetime in Reston!
• Transportation – Bonnie Whyte continues to expand our resources for rides and transportation.  Bonnie has helped Reston for a Lifetime forge a wonderful partnership with the Shepherd Center, FISH and USE to provide rides to Restonians.  Bonnie continues to recruit more drivers for these partnerships, you can email her at billbonwhyte@gmail.com  if you are interested in helping out.
• Senior Housing Engagement  - Many people are drawn to this initiative and others like it because they want to remain in their homes for as long as possible and not move to “senior housing”.  In our meetings we discussed how unfortunate it is when someone does end up making a move they often get disconnected from their neighborhood or the surrounding neighborhood.  This project has a goal to help us view the seven senior communities in Reston as our neighbors and create a program that engages the community with the residents and vice versa.

Sustainability – A key foundation to making this an initiative that lasts is the partnerships we have developed with Reston based organizations like and among others.  The group discussed applying for some targeted grants as well.

This leads to a plug for one of our best “partners”, The Shepherd’s Center of Oakton-Vienna, which we partner with to provide medical rides.  They are having a fundraiser featuring humorist Jeanne Robertson titled “Laughter is the Best Medicine” on Oct. 23. Visit http://scov.org/ for more information.