Most of us who are aging want to live in our current communities and homes as long as possible. The world has changed, and this is our best and for many, only option. We hope that with a little luck and good genetics we might be able to live on our own terms until the end. The reality is that we’ll need more than “a little help from our friends” to achieve it. (Please see my earlier blog, Baby Boomers seek new solutions, for more detail about changes in the social and cultural fabric of our society and families, as well as the growing scarcity and cost of other types of senior living.)
The Aging in Place and the Village Movements started over 20 years ago with the idea of finding ways to extend the time we can live in our homes, to organize that solution and to make it affordable and safe. Expectations evolved and have blossomed to include an exploration of how we can continue to grow and engage with vitality and purpose when we are older. A Village should be part of an overall plan to remain in your home long term.
What is a Village
The goal of the Village Movement is that instead of leaving our homes for senior housing or assisted living (or some other group facility), people in a given community, join together to create a “village” and then support village members as they continue to live in their homes with a sense of community and security.
The first village was founded by a group of residents of the Beacon Hill neighborhood of Boston in 2001. Twenty years ago, this was revolutionary, and the idea grew and spread across the US. Today, there are over 200 operating villages and more than 150 in development, in 45 states and the District of Columbia. Most participate in the Village-to-Village (VTV) network, which provides expert guidance, resources and support to help communities establish and maintain their Villages. Their site also offers a national map of current and planned village sites. Another important resource has developed on the west coast, Village Movement California. It emphasizes “transforming the experience of aging across the state to strengthen impact, accelerate growth and ensure sustainability of the Village Movement”.
Villages are autonomous self-governing, grass roots, non-profit organizations; independent; membership and volunteer driven. Each one constitutes a virtual neighborhood and community environment similar to what used to exist almost everywhere in our culture.
According to the National Survey of U.S. Villages in 2017, University of California, Berkeley Center for Advanced Study of Aging Services & Mather Lifeways Institute on Aging; Villages average 146 members; the average member is a middle-income, 74-year-old woman; and members pay an annual fee averaging $431,but can range from $10 to $900. Most Villages offer discounts or subsidies for lower-income members, and many members and volunteers donate or participate in fundraising efforts to support their Village. It is common for Villages to have various types of membership to better fit the needs of members. For example a Social Member would attend any social events they desired, but would not be eligible for services or referrals. A description of Villages that I love is “If you’ve seen one Village, you’ve seen one Village”. This speaks to the uniqueness of each village which is defined by its founders, and the leaders that join them, in their desire to reflect the needs and desires of the community which they represent.
Why It Takes a Village
Each Village is autonomous, and its members determine which services will be offered. Typical offerings to members include transportation, helping out with meal preparation, dog walking, technology training and support, small home repairs, companionship and shopping, health and wellness programs such as hiking, yoga and other exercises, social activities, movies, eating at restaurants; cultural and educational activities and local trips. These are usually organized and led by volunteers, many of whom are also members. Some Villages hire an administrator, either paid or a volunteer, who can connect members with services as needed, as well as coordinate village-wide programs and activities. Villages coordinate and collaborate with outside organization for members.
Most villages recruit and rely on local volunteers to help deliver services to members. Many Villages also maintain a list of professional referrals for jobs not appropriate for volunteers to perform. One of the unique aspects of Villages is the combination Member/Volunteer where a member also volunteers to perform services which helps solidify and strengthen relationships and allows for a really beautiful interdependence and closeness of participants.
I was fortunate to be able to participate in developing and managing via a board of directors, a Village in Southern California, Conejo Valley Village and this experience has left me an enthusiastic advocate of the Village Movement and its potential for making our lives better as we age. In future posts I hope to describe some of the challenges we faced when developing a completely new nonprofit entity in our community!