START YOUR OWN VILLAGE
The Village Movement
In 2012, the oldest of the Baby Boomers turned 65 and many more are quickly approaching senior citizen status. Even though many individuals would like to avoid facing the reality of aging, communities must prepare for the 72 million, approximately one out of every five people in the U.S., who will be at least 65 years old by 2030.
According to a 2011 AARP report, seniors are facing retirement challenges their parents did not. They have more debt and fewer pensions, and many have no savings. Moreover, following the 2008 recession, their housing values had decreased, interest rates are low, and government and non-profit resources were dwindling. There is also significant uncertainty about the future of Medicare and the Affordable Health Care for America Act. In 2010, the Kaiser Foundation reported that only 10% of seniors have long-term care insurance. In addition to the economic challenges, many aging boomers do not have the support traditionally provided by extended families, since fewer family members live near one another.
In surveys of older adults, 90% strongly wanted to stay in their own homes and communities. Current seniors, as well as those who will soon be seniors, want to "age in place.” While each Village is different, all focus on providing a rich array of services and programs. Villages also represent a welcome, cost-effective way for citizens to take personal responsibility during an era of declining public resources. The best-known "Village" is Beacon Hill Village, which started in Boston in 2001. Beacon Hill Village has now grown to more than 300 members, serves four neighborhood communities, and has served as a catalyst for the National Village Movement.
Nationwide, more than 350 Villages are now operating and many others are in various planning stages. Many Villages have been recognized as exemplary community collaborations helping older Americans remain in their homes as they age, improve the quality of their lives, and save money in the process.
Village to Village Network
What began as a grassroots idea in Boston spurred an international movement that now encompasses approximately 350 villages in the United States and around the world. These villages are all connected to another organization the Boston Village helped create, the Village to Village Network.