074 – Interview: How the Village Model Supports Aging in Place & Community

In This Episode:

Dr. K talks with UC Berkeley Professor Andrew Scharlach about his work studying the Village Model and other approaches to supporting aging in place. He is an expert on creating aging-friendly communities and formerly directed Berkeley’s Center for the Advanced Study of Aging Services.  They discuss:

• What is a Village and what’s usually included in the Village model
• How Villages differ from Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities (NORCs)
• The grassroots history of the first Village and the growth of the Village model
• Why aging in community may be a better goal than aging in place
• Why Professor Scharlach and his colleagues decided to study Villages, and what they’ve learned so far
• How Villages appear to benefit their members
• How the goals and ambitions of Villages have evolved over time
• How Villages manage funding and other challenges
• Whether Villages are a good fit for people who are frail or declining
• Whether Villages really do prevent unwanted relocations

Related episode: 

035 – Interview: Aging in the Right Place

Related Resources:

• Village to Village Network website
  • What is a Village and how to join or start one
• Villages in the News
  • For some seniors, a cultural shift and a vital volunteerism
  • ‘Village’ Movement for Aging Seniors Faces Some Challenges
• Selected publications by Andrew Scharlach:
  • The “Village” Model: A Consumer-Driven Approach for Aging in Place
  • Do Villages Promote Aging in Place? Results of a Longitudinal Study
  • Impact of the Village Model: Results of a National Survey
  • A Tale of Two Community Initiatives for Promoting Aging in Place: Similarities and Differences in the National Implementation of NORC Programs and Villages