Consider this first....rural living means dark skies, quiet landscape, no immediate neighbours, no convienience stores, less traffic, wildlife, tranqillity, remote locations, livestock, creeks, northern lights, bon fires, tree houses, gardens......the list of incredible opportunities is enless....IF you are willing to sacrifice convienience and metropolitan life. When we are younger these are assets and benefits, perhaps even considerations that imporove our quality of life...until....we begin to age.
Next consider WHO these assets attract and what personality traits may be drawn to this type of rural and remote living....independent, willful, strong? Yes. Creative, inroverted, museing? Likely. Experimental, private, contemplative? Definately. Eccentric, clever, non-conforming? Probably. Senstive, caring, humble? Perhaps. Complex and able bodied? Certianly.
Now consider the inevitable fact of ageing and bridge that with ageing rurally and tie it up in a box wrapped in paper that expresses all of the above persoanlity traits. Complicated AND Delicate? TOTALLY. For those who choose to live their lives rurally, we must face the transition of ageing rurally. This can be scary. Scary becasue we lack the immediate community available that the city has, we do not have the 24 hour store on the corner, we dont have Uber, we don't have cell service at times, nor do we have Skip the Dishes or even streetlights. So can we as a community of friends, family and neighbours help to support our ageing rural community members better? YES, ABSOLUTLEY. There are mobile health services avaible in some of our rural communitiies. Some communitiites have mental health practicioners available, home care and pharmaceutical delivery services just to name a few. These services can help make ageing rurally more comfortable. When the government programs run out we must look to our own communities to support and assist when possible. https://www.albertahealthservices.ca/info/Page878.aspx
We can start committies to deliver meals much like the "Meals on Wheels" program in the city. We can organize errand runs to the city on regular intervals. Amazon Prime has a scheduled delivery service available for home essentials called SUBSCRIBE and SAVE https://www.amazon.ca/Subscribe/b?node=6583741011 , form a group to pick these up from the delivery depot and deliver to the rural properties. Monthly Pot-Luck Suppers for community spirit and interaction. There are undless options.
The reality is that we who live rural or remote lives do so for a reason, an attachement to nature, a yearning for peace, a need for quiet reflection. These are ingrained in us and will remain with us forever. So, think about the unbeliveable pain that may be involved when considering a change of lifestyle due to ageing. Think about the anxiety from the fear of being uprooted and transplanted into a bright, loud, busy enviornment unwantingly. Think about how different it may be to transition from a rural to a residential setting, and what the underlying reasons for that unwanted transition may be. It's complicated and emotional, we can be extra gentle with our neighbours, whether they be freind, family or even foe, who may be facing the need to soon leave a rural setting for a more convienient enviornment and help them to explore options to allow them to stay longer. There are government programs in place, there are volunteer opportunitites that can be created by you (creating volunteering opportunities is as much a part of volunteering as is doating time to process those created funtions), there are ways to help, and by helping each other our communities will benefit. We need diversity in our communities and our more vulnerable populations are integral pieces of the rural fabric.
...so when the move is inevitable rural realestate may require a gentler conversation, some extra time together at meetings, an understanding of the deeper wounds as a result of the tear from rural life. Appraisers, service providers, and fellow Realtors please take a little extra time to provide a little bit more than exceptional service for the people in these transitions. It's likely not easy but if you spend a little extra time, your life may just be graced with stories of old, an explanation of what the landscape looked like so many years ago, an historical account that is nothing short of a national treasure or a moresel of homesteading or animal husbandry advice that you just couldnt get from any google search you tried. Be kind, be unconditional, take nothing personally and above all be greatful for a peek into the lives of the unique and extraordinary people who live rurally or remotely.
...until next time. Kathleen