What Makes a Village: A Case Study of the Massachusetts Village Network

Presenter

Kaela Leary

Campus

UMass Amherst

Sponsor

Gloria DiFulvio, Department of Public Health, UMass Amherst

Schedule

Session 5, 3:30 PM - 4:15 PM [Schedule by Time][Poster Grid for Time/Location]

Location

Poster Board A92, Campus Center Auditorium, Row 5 (A81-A100) [Poster Location Map]

Abstract

The village model is an aging in place model that began in Beacon Hill in Boston in 2002. The village model and others like it promote this method of aging by providing services, activities, and support within the community that encourage social connection and alleviate certain stressors that can be prevalent in older individuals living alone, such as providing rides to medical appointments, helping with home repair, or delivering groceries. As this network continues to grow across the country, there is little to be seen on how success is measured in this model as well as the organizational structures that promote these successes. Through this research, I examined the village model as it exists in it’s origin state, Massachusetts, in a series of case studies. I gathered data through key informant interviews with the staff of five villages in Massachusetts on crucial information such as membership, funding, services, leadership, and future goals. I performed qualitative analysis to determine major themes across villages, evaluate differences across villages, and  generate recommendations that target gaps and barriers to success. My presentation will discuss these challenges and barriers as well as the facilitators to success in the village model and address future steps for these organizations.

Keywords

Aging in place, Community based organizations, Healthy aging, Sustainable village models

Research Area

Public Health and Epidemiology

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