It takes a village

Hello blog readers: a slight change of plans this morning.  Humor will be on its way next week, but for now — please enjoy this post by Nancy Healey!

No place like home is more than an old expression.  Studies done by AARP and other groups indicate that nearly 90 percent of seniors want to remain in their own homes in their own communities as they age.  The most recent surveys indicate that COVID-19 did not change this.

The USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology says that maintaining a sense of independence is one of the most important things to most seniors.  Aging in place allows older adults to retain a high level of control over their lives.  Those of us who are used to taking care of our basic needs, such as purchasing food and other essentials in our local neighborhoods, feel comfort in being able to still maintain these activities independently.

Aging in place allows older adults to continue enjoying their homes and treasured possessions, which can have great sentimental value.  Remaining in their communities enables seniors to continue with important local connections and maintain long-term friendships.

The cost of relocating to a senior living facility can be challenging or even impossible for many.  Staying in your home is generally less expensive especially for those 20 percent of adults over 65 who no longer have a mortgage. There are, of course, cons to aging in place: home maintenance can be difficult, health issues may go unnoticed, isolation can be a serious threat.

To address some of the living issues facing seniors, our City’s Council on Aging sponsored a program about the national Village to Village Network nine years ago.  Our population was approximately 125,000 in 2021 with 19 percent being over 65 and increasing every year.    Attendance at the program was by far the largest we ever had.  The response was overwhelmingly positive and the interest in having a Village in our community was great.  The majority of our seniors were not familiar with the Village concept so there were many questions.

What is a Village?  Where is it located?  Do I have to move?  How do we get one in our community?  Why do we need one?  These were just some of the questions we needed to answer when thinking of starting a Village in our City.

According to the Village to Village Network, Villages are consumer-driven, grassroots community-based organizations.  Villages are formed through a group of caring people in the community who want to change the paradigm of aging.  Villages like ours can be virtual with all services set up through a dedicated team of call managers working from home or some have physical offices.  Through their efforts local Villages become the foundation for connecting members to a full range of support services to help with non-medical tasks, services, programs and transportation.  Villages promote staying active by coordinating recreational, social, educational and cultural programs.  The social activities minimize isolation and promote interaction with others in the community.

The Village Movement originated in Beacon Hill in Boston in 2002.  There are currently more than 240 village nonprofit organizations nationwide with 46 in development. The California Village Movement now includes 40 Villages.

The age distribution of the US is shifting.  Data in 2021 indicated that more than 55.8 million adults 65 and older live in the US, accounting for 16.8 percent of our population.  By 2040 that population is projected to grow to 22 percent.

In Britain and the US, roughly one in three people older than 65 live alone.  In the US half of those older than 85 live alone.  Studies in both countries show the prevalence of loneliness among people 60 and older ranges from 10 percent to 46 percent.

The Village model helps seniors to age in a place of their choosing, connected to their communities with the supports and tools they need to create successful aging of their choice.  Village members experience reduced isolation, increased independence and enhanced purpose in life.  Ilene Henshaw, AARP Department of Government Affairs, says “Villages are instrumental in helping people remain in their homes and independent in their communities.”

Characteristics of Villages include the following:

– Provide a strong, inclusive community that offers members opportunity to age successfully

– Are membership-driven, non-profit, self-governing, grassroots organizations

– Can be volunteer managed or have paid staff

After several years of research, including conducting three focus groups with community seniors, it was agreed that a Village would be very beneficial to the aging population in my community.  Six years ago Conejo Valley Village was born.  Since opening our virtual location in 2017, CVV has performed 8700 hours of member services with over 6800 hours providing transportation for our members.  Other volunteer services included minor home repairs, help with computers, home visits, member calls and decluttering assistance.  Volunteers have donated more than 9000 hours each year for CVV.

One of the most important aspects of Villages is providing opportunities for socialization with other members.  CVV provides more than 20 activities a month including meals and happy hours in local restaurants, potlucks, picnics, holiday parties, physical and mental fitness classes, rummikub and canasta classes/groups, and walks and hikes.

I have been a member of Conejo  Valley Village since the beginning and believe it has been a huge help to me and our community seniors who wish to remain in their homes as long as they safely can.  One 90+ year old member wrote “because of you I can live in my home and try to have a normal life.”  Another wrote, “It is so comforting to know that I can count on you to get me to and from medical appointments, the market and other trips.”  A third member wrote that CVV volunteers “are inspirational and and positive and make us feel we are important, and people do care.”

If you think a Village could be just what your community needs, the Village to Village Network website includes a section titled “How Do I Start a Village,” including the “Village 101” webinar.  It could make a difference in the lives of your senior population for years to come.