June 20, 2016 — The PATH Foundation, a grantmaking organization based in Warrenton, has awarded $50,000 to Rappahannock at Home (RappatHome) to fund the expansion of the nonprofit’s programs.

This organization seeks to establish “Senior Villages” to help support aging residents, a concept different from traditional retirement homes or assisted living facilities. RappatHome is creating a mutual support network to allow their members to age within their own homes.

Rappahannock County’s geographic and demographic conditions make it difficult for less mobile residents to access resources. Eve Brooks, who serves as secretary on RappatHome’s Board of Directors, explained, “There are very few social services in place, and it is harder to connect to existing services.” These conditions often lend to the gradual isolation of less mobile residents.

RappatHome creates a network of human connections to assist members with resources needed by aging residents, with hopes the model will be replicated in other areas with similar needs.

Membership is available to all residents over the age of 50 in Rappahannock County, the Culpeper portions of Amissville and Boston, the Warren County portion of Chester Gap and northern Madison County.

RappatHome is currently working to expand its membership base. “We need to be doing an awful lot of outreach at this point,” Brooks said. As RappatHome collects more members they will be able to expand the services they have available, and increased services will attract more members.

In the past year RappatHome has (with the help of the County Extension Office) hosted a Senior Fitness Program, partnered with Consumer Value Store (CVS) to install a program that allows RappatHome volunteers to deliver prescription medications to RappatHome members, and facilitate grocery home delivery services.

Ken Gray, RappatHome’s planning coordinator, hopes that this expansion will allow the organization to “build communities that make aging easier, more productive, and more rewarding.”