The Village model has emerged as an innovative way to support an aging society.
It is a consumer-driven model that aims to promote aging in place for community-dwelling older adults.
About 40 percent of Village members serve as volunteers for other members in some capacity.
Some even report better health and access to medical care.
Village Development and Consumer Direction:Villages are typically developed and self-governed by the members.
Organizational Structure: Villages typically serve neighborhoods, cities, or counties or are defined by zip code.
The average size of a Village in 2016 was 140 members.
Village Collaboration and Coalitions:Villages often band together to form intra-Village collaborations or align themselves with other Villages.
Villages are also beginning to cooperate via regional coalitions.
55 percent of members live alone.
About half also offer tiered options, such as a social membership for seniors who only attend social events.
Most Villages have some paid staff, with an average of 1.2 full-time employees.
Villages are almost universally nonprofit entities.
Village Diversity
Villages remain a model that attracts mostly white, well-educated, and well-resourced older adults.
This suggests that Villages may not reflect the communities they serve.
