History
Villages are community-based grassroots nonprofit organizations designed to address the current and unfolding challenges of an older America. It's neighbors caring for neighbors organized and supported through a local Village organization. This kind of Village is not a roads and streets community nor a bricks and mortar residential facility; Villages are defined by a support organization that provides value, benefits, and services to its members through a network of services, activities, resources, and support. Originally started in the Beacon Hill neighborhood of Boston, MA in 2002, the Village concept arose out of community members' desires to reside in their own homes while being able to access services that address their changing lifestyles as they aged. At its core, the Village Movement is consumer and customer-driven. |
Characteristics of a Village
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Why Are Villages Needed Now?
A 2010 survey by AARP found that nearly 90% of older adults in America want to stay in their homes and communities as they age. The Village model helps older adults to age in a place of their choosing, connected to their communities with the practical supports and tools they need to create successful aging of their own design. Villages are well positioned to improve the population health of the communities they serve. In Britain and the United States, roughly one in three people older than 65 live alone, and in the United States, half of those older than 85 live alone. Studies in both countries show the prevalence of loneliness among people older than 60 ranging from 10% to 46%. The Village Model works! Village members consistently report a positive impact on their well-being and quality of life as a direct result of their participation in their Village. content from Village to Village Network |
Through its programs, services and resources, the national Village to Village Network empowers Villages in formation, energizes functioning Villages, serves as a Village commons to connect its members, and champions the Village model as a leading best practice for healthy and vibrant aging. Village members remain connected to their communities, with reduced isolation, increased independence and enhanced purpose of life.
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