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A Sixty and Me first-person report describes three women in their 70s who formed an informal support system while living in the same apartment building in Cuenca, Ecuador. They share emergency plans, check in if one has not been heard from in three days, and are considering a fund for future caregiving; one friend also bought another’s apartment so she could remain in the building.
Three women in their 70s living in the same apartment building in Cuenca, Ecuador, have developed an informal support network aimed at helping one another remain independent as they age, according to a first-person report published by Sixty and Me. Their arrangements include shared emergency contacts and spare keys, while a friend’s purchase of another woman’s apartment helped her stay in the building.
The women, identified in the essay as Blake, Emma and the author, did not move into the building intending to create an aging-in-place group. The author says their friendship grew from casual drinks and dinners into deeper conversations and practical support. The trio now describes itself as a small community, rather than relying on companionship alone.
They first tried checking in with one another every morning and evening, but found the routine unnecessary. Their current arrangement is a three-day rule: if someone has not heard from another member for three days, she reaches out. Each woman also has a spare key to the others’ apartments, and they have hidden backup keys in places known to the group.
The women set up a phone emergency group that includes trusted people nearby, and prepared laminated contact sheets with local ambulance and hospital information, emergency numbers, doctors, legal contacts and people holding medical proxy or power-of-attorney roles. They have also discussed creating a shared fund to pay for a caregiver or nurse in the future, but the essay says they are still working out the logistics.
A Local Network for Growing Older
The account presents aging in place as more than adapting a home with grab bars, accessible hallways or other physical changes. It also raises the question of who can respond when someone needs help, especially for older adults who live alone or do not have nearby family. In this case, the women are building everyday contact and emergency planning into a friendship that formed naturally.
Their approach does not replace professional care, family support or formal emergency services. Rather, it offers a local layer of assistance: friends can notice when someone has gone quiet, access a home if needed and contact the people or services listed in advance. The essay offers a personal example, not evidence that this model will work for everyone or that it can meet all care needs.
The story also shows how housing stability can affect social support. When Blake faced the possibility of leaving after her landlord decided to sell, Emma bought the apartment, according to the author. That decision kept the group together in the same building and turned their stated commitment to one another into a concrete housing arrangement.
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How the Friendship Took Shape
The author describes herself as a lifelong single woman. Blake is widowed and has an adult child; Emma is divorced and lives alone. They met after moving into a restored colonial building in Cuenca, though they had not set out to become one another’s aging-in-place partners. The author calls them her “thinking friends”, describing conversations in which they listen, offer advice when asked and support one another through difficult moments.
Their planning developed gradually alongside the friendship. After settling on the three-day check-in rule and sharing keys, they wrote down emergency details and identified trusted contacts. They have also considered whether other residents might want to join a future caregiving fund. That possibility remains an idea under discussion, rather than an established building-wide program.
The apartment purchase followed a specific disruption: Blake’s landlord decided to sell the unit she rented. Emma had recently sold an investment property and purchased Blake’s apartment, the essay says. The report does not give the price, legal arrangement or other financial details.
““I call them my ‘thinking friends’ because our conversations are substantive and deep.””
— The author, writing in Sixty and Me
Plans Still Being Worked Out
The report is a first-person account and does not provide independent verification or detailed information about the women’s finances, health needs or legal arrangements. It is also unclear whether the group has consulted professionals about the proposed shared fund, how contributions would be managed, or what formal responsibilities any caregiver would have.
The women have discussed inviting other residents to take part, but the essay does not say that a wider program has been launched. Their arrangements are specific to three friends who live near one another; the report does not establish how well the model would transfer to people with different housing, financial or care circumstances.
Possible Steps for the Group
According to the essay, the women are still considering how a shared fund might work and whether other people in their building would be interested. They have not announced a start date, a contribution amount or a confirmed plan to hire a caregiver. For now, their stated arrangements are the check-in rule, shared keys, emergency contacts and written information about whom to contact if someone needs help.
The report does not identify a formal next milestone. The group’s future plans will depend on how its members’ needs change and whether they can settle the financial and practical questions around in-home support.
Key Questions
What is the development described in the report?
A Sixty and Me first-person essay describes three women in their 70s who formed an informal support network while living in the same building in Cuenca, Ecuador.
How do the women check on one another?
They use a three-day rule: if one has not heard from another for three days, she checks in. They also share spare keys and have a phone emergency group with trusted local contacts.
Have they started a shared caregiving fund?
No. The author says they have discussed setting one up to help pay for future in-home care, but are still working out the logistics.
Why did Emma buy Blake’s apartment?
The author says Blake’s landlord decided to sell the apartment, raising the possibility that Blake would have to leave. Emma bought the unit, which allowed Blake to stay in the building with her friends.
Is this a formal aging-in-place program?
The report describes a personal arrangement among friends, not a formal program. It does not say that other residents have joined or that professional caregiving has been arranged.
Source: rss
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