Assessing the effectiveness of Village Model programs in promoting healthy aging in community

This presentation describes findings from a national study examining an the organizational structures and member characteristics of Village organizations, a new, consumer-driven model that aims to promote and support healthy aging in community. Villages use a "membership model" and collect annual dues in return for services. Villages provide some direct services but focus more on referring members to vetted and often-discounted community services. They are often developed in middle- to upper-income neighborhoods and there is some questions about whether they have the potential to serve more economically diverse populations. There are approximately 60 operational Villages in the US and many others currently in development. This paper presents the results of a national survey of Village model programs in the US. Results describe the organizational characteristics, mission, goals, challenges and member characteristics of Villages. The study found that Villages have high levels of consumer involvement, with seniors typically involved in organizational development, governance, and providing peer support. They rely primarily on member fees, gifts, and grants and have few stable sources of funding. Less than 5% of Village members are non-White. Findings will be discussed with regard to (a) the potential strengths of the Village model, such as the benefits of consumer directed models and their potential to promote both civic engagement as well as healthy aging in community; (b) the challenges this model faces, such as sustainability and its potential to serve the needs of lower-income seniors; and (c) organizational characteristics that may improve the likelihood of sustainability and effectiveness.