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Blog archive

March 2025

About Senior Solutions
03/28/2025

Building a Bridge With Journey House, A Home Base for Former Foster Youth
03/28/2025

Come for the Knitting, Stay for the Conversation... and the Cookies
03/28/2025

Creating Safe and Smart Spaces with Home Technology
03/28/2025

Finding Joy in My Role on The Pasadena Village Board
03/28/2025

I've Fallen and I Can't Get Up!
03/28/2025

Managing Anxiety
03/28/2025

Message from Our President: Keeping Pasadena Village Strong Together
03/28/2025

My Favorite Easter Gift
03/28/2025

The Hidden History of Black Women in WWII
03/28/2025

Urinary Tract Infection – Watch Out!
03/28/2025

Volunteer Coordinator and Blade-Runner
03/28/2025

Continuing Commitment to Combating Racism
03/26/2025

Status - March 20, 2025
03/20/2025

Goodbye and Keep Cold by Robert Frost
03/13/2025

What The Living Do by Marie Howe
03/13/2025

Racism is Not Genetic
03/11/2025

Bill Gould, The First
03/07/2025

THIS IS A CHAPTER, NOT MY WHOLE STORY
03/07/2025

Dramatic Flair: Villagers Share their Digital Art
03/03/2025

Empowering Senior LGBTQ+ Caregivers
03/03/2025

A Life Never Anticipated
03/02/2025

Eaton Fire Changes Life
03/02/2025

February 2025

Commemorating Black History Month 2025
02/28/2025

Transportation at the Pasadena Village
02/28/2025

A Look at Proposition 19
02/27/2025

Behind the Scenes: Understanding the Pasadena Village Board and Its Role
02/27/2025

Beyond and Within the Village: The Power of One
02/27/2025

Celebrating Black Voices
02/27/2025

Creatively Supporting Our Village Community
02/27/2025

Decluttering: More Than The Name Implies
02/27/2025

Hidden Gems of Forest Lawn Museum
02/27/2025

LA River Walk
02/27/2025

Message from the President
02/27/2025

Phoenix Rising
02/27/2025

1619 Conversations with West African Art
02/25/2025

The Party Line
02/24/2025

Bluebird by Charles Bukowski
02/17/2025

Dreams by Langston Hughes
02/17/2025

Haiku - Four by Fritzie
02/17/2025

Haikus - Nine by Virginia
02/17/2025

Wind and Fire
02/17/2025

Partnerships Amplify Relief Efforts
02/07/2025

Another Community Giving Back
02/05/2025

Diary of Disaster Response
02/05/2025

Eaton Fire: A Community United in Loss and Recovery
02/05/2025

Healing Powers of Creative Energy
02/05/2025

Living the Mission
02/05/2025

Message from the President: Honoring Black History Month
02/05/2025

Surviving and Thriving: Elder Health Considerations After the Fires
02/05/2025

Treasure Hunting in The Ashes
02/05/2025

Villager's Stories
02/05/2025

A Beginning of Healing
02/03/2025

Hectic Evacuation From Eaton Canyon Fire
02/02/2025

Hurricanes and Fires are Different Monsters
02/02/2025

January 2025

My journey to the Pasadena Village

By Vicki Hodges
Posted: 08/30/2020
Tags: vickie hodges

- Vickie -

Back in late February 2020 I attended a brunch with some former co-workers at the house of our esteemed ex-boss, Betty Ann. A great time was had by all of us as were some great conversations. Betty Ann welcomed all of us and then proceeded to share some information about the brochures that had been placed throughout the eating area. The brochures were entitled THE PASADENA VILLAGE.
What Betty Ann told us opened my eyes. When I heard the words “support for caregivers,”  “community” and “members are helpful” and all of the various events and activities that The Village offered I thought to myself “this is just what I need right now.” I was going through a difficult transition in my personal life, living with someone who was suffering from many cognitive and memory challenges. I had become a de facto caregiver. This was not what I was expecting to do in my retirement! I was unhappy and depressed about my situation and was desperate for community support and resources.  I grabbed one of the brochures and jotted down the next meeting for newcomers.

Unfortunately, the Covid-19 pandemic was formally named and CDC guidelines were mandated almost a week later. The “shelter-in-place” order forbade any large gatherings. The upcoming Village meeting was cancelled. I was disappointed as were many others. Still, I was able to sign up for the monthly newsletter and stayed “in the loop” that way. Peggy Buchanan was also helpful about offering to share caregiving resources.

Then on May 29th, The Pasadena Village held a ZOOM meeting in which I participated. That was a great way to see some of the faces that make up the Village and hear about what was going on in the community. I look forward to more of those.

I understand there is a support group for caregivers and am anxious to learn more about that. I am also interested in other discussion groups and maybe joining in on a walk or two.  Volunteering and offering my services is also of interest and Dick Myers has already reached out.

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