About: The Village to Village (VtV) Network is a membership-based organization that brings Villages together to share best practices for enabling older adults to live independent, healthy, purposeful lives with connections to their communities. The Network provides expert guidance, resources and support to help communities establish and maintain thriving Villages, and we champion the Village model at state and national levels as a best practice for healthy, vibrant aging.
View our 2022 Annual Report
Why Villages and VtV Network are needed
A 2010 survey by AARP found that nearly 90% of older adults in America want to stay in their homes and communities as they age. The Village model helps older adults to age in a place of their choosing, connected to their communities with the supports and tools they need to create successful aging of their own design.
Villages are well positioned to improve the population health of the communities they serve. In Britain and the United States, roughly one in three people older than 65 live alone, and in the United States, half of those older than 85 live alone. Studies in both countries show the prevalence of loneliness among people older than 60 ranging from 10% to 46%.*
Village members experience reduced isolation, increased independence, and enhanced purpose of life. “Villages are instrumental in helping people remain in their homes and independent in their communities.” - Ilene Henshaw, AARP, Department of Government Affairs.
The Village to Village Network connects Villages and enables the Village model of healthy, purposeful aging to grow and thrive.
Mission: To support and advocate for the Village Movement that empowers older adults to age in community.
Vision: Communities are stronger with a Village.
Values:
Community:
VtVN builds a national community of Villages that work cooperatively and share best practices to support local Villages.
Engagement:
VtVN provides local Villages with resources and training to build thriving Villages that engage and support older adults aging in community.
Partnership:
VtVN collaborates with allied businesses, national organizations, regional Village consortiums, and government agencies to raise awareness of the benefits of aging in community, expand the number of Villages, and access funding to support Villages.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion:
VtVN celebrates diversity and believes our members, volunteers, staff, and all involved in our organization should feel welcomed, respected, heard, and valued regardless of race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, age, ability, or any other characteristic. We endeavor to work with our member Villages to create safe, supportive, intentional, equitable, and inclusive communities where older adults are welcomed and encouraged to participate and thrive.
Created by Villages, for Villages
What We Do:
- Provide expert guidance and resources
for starting new Villages, including a
step-by-step “How To” guide
- Offer mentoring services for both new
and established Villages
- Hold an annual national conference to
share innovative ideas, best practices
and key trends in aging
- Facilitate peer-to-peer interactions
and knowledge exchange among
Villages via monthly webinars
and discussion forums
- Create innovative programs that help
build Village leadership
- Provide an extensive documents
library and webinars to strengthen
Village business systems and
operations and to advance efficiency
and sustainability
- Negotiate member discounts with
service providers that provide
operations management software,
home care, background checks,
insurance and website technology for
older adults
- Serve as the leading voice of the
Village Movement at the local, state
and national levels
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Learn More About Villages
Want to Find a Village?
A great way to find one near you is by using the
Village Map