HomeVillage Model

The Village Model

As our society rapidly ages, Villages such as LOWLINC help older adults remain safe and independent in their homes with the ability to make choices and enjoy relationships that contribute to healthier, happier lives.

A Village connects its members to affordable support services, typically including transportation and assistance with household tasks, such as light home maintenance, errands, tech support and friendly visits. Villages also organize social and educational activities that engage members and contribute to meaningful relationships. They provide opportunities for volunteers of all ages to become involved in providing services, participating in social activities and thus improving the experience of aging in their communities.

The Village model originated in 2002 when a group of adults in the Beacon Hill neighborhood of Boston joined together and formed a neighbor-to-neighbor association to help each other to age in place.

Village Features

Villages reflect the needs of older adults in their communities using several organizational models. However, all Villages have in common the following features:

Nonprofit, grassroots initiatives
Membership-based, volunteer-driven and self-governing
Designed to be inclusive and responsive to the needs of their communities
Provide social activities that minimize isolation
Create caring communities with meaningful reciprocity between individuals who offer assistance and those who request help
Serve as a source for members’ interpersonal connections, trust and social support
Build strong communities of mutual assistance that offer members varied opportunities to age successfully
Work with community partners to help address the challenges of aging

To learn more about Villages, visit the Village to Village Network, the national membership organization of Villages.