Villages are “community-based, nonprofit, grassroots organizations formed through a cadre of caring neighbors who want to change the paradigm of aging” (Village to Village Network). As membership organizations, Villages are typically governed by community residents themselves and provide older adults with services, social connections, and other events. Areas addressed include transportation, nutrition, technology, home maintenance, friendly visiting, healthcare advocacy, and more. Villages facilitate this support largely through neighbors-helping-neighbors volunteer arrangements, with some supplemental support from paid staff and referrals to formal providers. 

 

Research on whether, how, and under what circumstances Village programs, services, and interventions support members’ healthy aging is in its nascence. This project is a critical step to engage Village members and leaders with researchers to design future healthy aging research for and with Village members.