Since the early 2000s, Villages have emerged as among the most nationally prominent models of community aging initiatives. Villages have been defined as self-governing, grassroots, community-based organizations whose goal is to enable people to remain in their homes and communities as they age (Village to Village Network [VtV], n.d.). While the Village model has received substantial attention in the popular press, and the number of new Villages increases each year, Village leaders and researchers have raised concerns about the sustainability and inclusiveness of this model. This report describes findings on these topics from a two-phase national study of Villages focusing specifically on changes over time in Village size and funding, perceived challenges to sustainability, and successful strategies for responding to those challenges. It also presents information regarding the racial, ethnic, and economic characteristics of Village members, challenges associated with recruiting under-represented groups, and the types of underrepresented groups that Villages are interested in recruiting. // (2014)
