1-13-18: Marilyn Olson, Executive Director of VillagesOKC

This week on “Rise & Thrive with the OSJ Radio Hour”
Saturdays 9:05 a.m. on The Eagle, KZLS 1640AM or listen in on the OSJ app and website “Home Page” anytime! 

Guest in studio: Marilyn Olson, Executive Director of VillagesOKC

Marilyn Olson, a native of Oklahoma City, Marilyn Olson is an Educator, Businesswoman and Caregiver Coach.  She began as a teacher then spending a decade in advertising before spending more than 30 years in the healthcare, retirement, nursing home and assisted living industries.  Her passion is to be a help to the caregiver.

Her experience includes opening ten retirement communities several of which are in the greater Oklahoma City area. Most recently she accepted the position of Executive Director for VillagesOKC. “It is NOT a Place – It is a PLAN! 

As a member of the “over-fifty-five club” herself, she knows full well the demands of the sandwich generation.  Marilyn and her husband Jim keep their interests in multiple worlds by staying involved in the lives of her 102 year old mother along with, three grown children and ten grandchildren.

Her humorous yet practical style has made her a favorite of adults and teens.  She says the challenges of aging are nothing new “because we’ve made it through childhood, teen years and middle adult life – and it’s basically all the same.”

VillagesOKC –It is NOT a Place … It is a PLAN-VillagesOKC! What is It? AGAIN – It is a Plan … NOT a Place! We are going to Age but we do not have to be old! VillagesOKC is a group of like-minded people in a geographic area who stay in their own homes that come together to figure out and develop the resources they will need to age comfortably. The VillagesOKC Concept embraces bringing services to people rather than moving people to services. The first “Village” Concept  — Beacon Hill “Village” in Boston — began more than a decade ago when a few aging friends and neighbors joined forces to create a way for them to “age at home” and remain independent as long as possible. There are now nearly 300 “Villages” Concepts nationwide. “We are taking matters into our own hands and creating organizations for ourselves that essentially allow us to remain in our homes are as long as possible.”
Listen to the Rise & Thrive OSJ Radio 📻Hour this Saturday’s at 9:05am to learn more on this exciting new way to Age-in-Place Confidently, Safely & in your own neighborhood!