The discussion groups are part of a project that aims to strengthen mutual understanding and help develop a shared vision among Village leaders, Village members, and researchers for future collaborative studies focusing on the health outcomes that matter most to Village participants.

Village members, officers, and leaders in the United States were invited to participate. We ran five discussion groups: two with Village members in general, one with Village members with a healthcare background, one with individuals who lead regional networks of Villages, and one with Village professionals and officers.

RAND researchers conducted the discussion groups in consultation with Rutgers University and Village to Village Network. The discussion groups were part of a larger project with support from a Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) Eugene Washington Engagement Award (#EACB-26583).

The online group discussion was expected to last approximately two hours. The main discussion topics were:


• Priorities for healthy aging research

• Implications of Village governance & infrastructure for research collaborations

• Health outcomes of particular interest to Villages

• How to improve Villages’ engagement with researchers

The consent process was part of due diligence. Before participation, all participants had the consent process explained to them along with any privacy issues arising from the discussion group format.

With participants’ consent, we recorded the focus groups. The researchers will analyze the information from the groups and will summarize findings in reports. No attribution to specific individuals for any information will be reported publicly as part of the findings.

Participants contributed to a better understanding of ways that researchers and Villages can collaborate and shape future research into healthy aging.

Participants could choose to accept or decline the gift card after the focus group has concluded. They also could choose to use the gift card in whatever way they see fit (e.g., donate it to their Village operations or programs, keep it for themselves, give it to another person).

• Village Members, week of Oct. 23, 2023

• Village Members with a Healthcare Background, week of Oct. 30, 2023

• Village Professionals and Officers, week of Nov. 13, 2023

• Regional Village Network Leaders, week of Nov. 27, 2023

• Village Members, week of Dec. 4, 2023

Please contact the RAND Principal Investigator, Alina Palimaru:

VillagesResearch@rand.org or (310) 393 0411 ext.7312.