In 1966, First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton wrote a book about raising children, “It Takes a Village …” That phrase became part of our country’s language and attitude — at least to some degree. It’s easy for me to see in the context of caregiving too: “It can take a village to care for older adults.”

I’ve worked with older adults both professionally and as a volunteer for far too long to dismiss the truth of that affirmation. But it is so important to re-affirm that truth as we bump noses with the misleading assertions of rugged individualism and independence.

Our egos persuade us that we are completely independent and ruggedly able to take care of ourselves. Except when we aren’t. No one, regardless of age, is fully independent of support from other people.

And that is particularly true when we move into that time of aging we tend to call “older adult.” Or being the “lead geezer-in-training,” perhaps I should say “geezer-hood.”

The older we get, we more vulnerable our physical and cognitive health can become. We may need more villagers to keep us as independent (able to make our own decisions) as we can be.

In Bonner County, there are a good many agencies and residential communities that stand by to become our “villagers.” They can help us function enough that, for example, staying in our own homes can last for much longer than if those services weren’t available.

Many of those service agencies also realize they shouldn’t try to go it alone. About seven years ago, a group of agencies and services decided to sit down with each other to explore how we might support each other even as we support our particular clients/residents.

We call our loose-knit group Panhandle SeniorNet. We meet monthly to visit with each other, to learn from each other and look for ways to cooperate with each other — all for helping our clients live healthier lives.

Next Tuesday, May 24, members of Panhandle SeniorNet will be the guest resource persons at the Geezer Forum. Some of our members have shared at past Geezer Forums.

But we recognize information about professional caregiving services is always welcome to two general groups of people: folks new to our community who might need caregiving services, and folks whose family situations have changed enough that they need this information sooner rather than later.

So together, we invite participants in the forum to learn what agencies and residential communities are available in Bonner and Boundary Counties. We’re part of the “village” that older adults are now a part of.

We are some of the villagers who offer various services that ease some concerns of older adults and their families. We hope you will join us to explore those services. Some of them may be needed by you, a family member or a friend in the near future.

The Geezer Forum will next Tuesday, May 24, 2:30-4 p.m. at Columbia Bank’s Community Room (and next to the Tango Cafe). This upcoming Geezer Forum will be the last forum before we take a Summer Recess — June, July and August. (We will start again on Sept. 13.)

Paul R. Graves, M.Div., is Lead Geezer-in-Training of Elder Advocates, a consulting ministry on aging issues. Contact Paul at 208-610-4971 or elderadvocates@nctv.com.