Village Programs: Helping Older Adults Age in Place Virginia Blueprint for Livable Communities Hearing May 9, 2014 Candace Baldwin Director of Strategy,

Village Programs: Helping Older Adults Age in Place

Virginia Blueprint for Livable CommunitiesHearing

May 9, 2014

Candace Baldwin

Director of Strategy, Aging in Community

Why is the Village Model the Right Model Now?

Because there are more people age 65 and older than in any

time in our history.

US Residents Over Age 65:

In 2006 there were 37 million

In 2030 there will be 71.5 million

By 2025, 25% of Virginia population will be 60+

Age Wave Opportunities

71.5 MILLION

Because people over age 85 are the fastest

growing segment of the US population.

Because 85% of people age 45 and older say they want to age in their own homes and communities.

Because we cannot build enough senior communities and retirement facilities to house all of us.

It would take too long and cost too much.

Cross Sector Coordination as a Foundation

Element Features Basic Needs -- Safe, Accessible, and Affordable

Accessible and affordable housing and community areas Provides information about services Fosters safety

Community Engagement Fosters meaningful connections Promotes active community engagement Opportunities for paid or volunteer work

Health and Well Being Facilitates access to medical and social services Promotes health behaviors Supports community activities that enhance well being

Independence and Autonomy

Mobilizes in-home supports and services Coordinates or offers transportation Supports family and other caregivers

New Way to Define Social Networking• Research beginning to identify

importance of social connections on health outcomes

• Aging in community best chance to remain connected

• Aging in Community vs. Aging in Place

• ACA – focus on care and systems

coordination– home and community based

services

Village Model

Village Model has a Set of Guiding Principles

• Self-governing, self-supporting, grassroots membership-based organizations

• Consolidate and coordinate services to members• Create innovative strategic partnerships that

leverage existing community resources and do not duplicate existing services

• Holistic, person-centered, and consumer-driven• Promote volunteerism, civic engagement, and

intergenerational connections

Village Provides the Mechanism to Support Aging in Community

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Local Leadership Development

Health and Wellness

Livable, Age Friendly Community

Economic and Community

Development

Village Builds Strong Communities

Platform for local policy/program

innovation

Model for successful aging

Support Individuals to reach highest

potential

Resources to stimulate growth

Villages are Unique to the Communities they Serve

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• Villages vary the organization to reflect the needs and leverage available resources

• Core services address gaps and preference• Funded through membership fees and fundraising

from private sources• Nearly all Villages offer options for both individual or

household membership• Average age of Village member is between 74 years of

age

Village Model is about Individuals

• Sense of Belonging– A place where I can be myself

• Mutual Support– A place where I can give and get

support

• Greater Influence– High level of self efficacy and worth

• Exploration– A place where I can explore new

ideas/activities

Villages Foster a Strong Sense of Community

• Combination of paid staff, volunteers and community-based partnerships:– Facilitate connection to existing community

services– Assist members to navigate medical, non-

medical and social support needs– Create social networks and expand social

capital to support aging in community

• 51% of Village members volunteer for their Village – truly “neighbor helping neighbor”

Member Benefits include a Wide Range of Services

• Unique to individual Village based upon community needs• Services provided by volunteers:

– Transportation– Social events and exercise classes– Caregiver support– Friendly visitor/Respite– Healthcare/Medical advocacy– Care transition coordination

• Discounted services provided by providers and community partners– Transportation– In-home technologies– Home maintenance/repair– Personal/Home care

Connecting Local Innovations with National Priorities

• Villages partnering to reduce hospital readmissions and increase patient engagement

• Care transitions - Newton at Home – Newton, MA– Key to reducing hospital readmissions– Measuring impact of Village

• Patient Readiness/Engagement - Avenidas Village – Palo Alto, CA– Patients - improved their understanding of the

goals and priorities of the visit– Physicians - helped them address specific patient

concerns and increased satisfaction with quality of visit

“This is a very simple but powerful tool, which

allows us to provide better care, and improve patient

satisfaction” – PAMF Physician

Village to Village Network

Village to Village Network is Critical to Replication

• VtV Network Objectives– Promote Village model

– Assist new, emerging and established Villages

– Gather feedback on how member benefits and programs can be revised to meet needs of individual Villages

– Research and evaluate impact of Villages on a number of social and health factors

• Current membership - 210 organizations from across the country in 40 states and 4 countries

145 Villages Open and Over 120 Communities in Development Phase

District of Columbia

1-3

4-9

10-14

15-25

Existing Villages (124 total open and operating)

Source: Information on Village activity known and reported to the Village to Village Network, LLC as of 01/2014

Communities Engaged in Village

Villages Movement in Virginia

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• Open Villages– At Home Alexandria– Arlington Neighborhood Villages– Clifton Fairfax Station– Colonial Beach Village– Lake Barcroft Village– McLean Community Village– Mt. Vernon at Home– Park View Village– The Fan Village (Richmond)

• Villages in Development– C-Ville Village (Charlottesville)– Greenwood Village (Charlottesville)– Neighbor to Neighbor Village (Blacksburg)– Vertical Village – VOA (Arlington)

Village Impact: Research Findings from University of

California Berkeley

Social Impacts of Village Membership

– 79% know more people than they used to

– 60% feel more connected with other people

– 49% participate in activities and events more

– 41% feel less lonely

– 37% leave their home more than they used to

Information derived from University of California Berkeley Evaluation of CA Villages (2013)

Well-Being Impacts

• 51% report improved quality of life

• 46% say they are happier

• 35% say their health is better

Information derived from University of California Berkeley Evaluation of CA Villages (2013)

Service Access Impacts

• Access• 82% are more likely to know how to get assistance when they need it• 77% know more about community services• 44% use community services more

• Efficacy• 29% have an easier time taking care of home• 25% have an easier time taking care of themselves

• Aging in Place• 77% feel they are more likely to be able to stay in their own homes as

they get older

Information derived from University of California Berkeley Evaluation of CA Villages (2013)

Potential Community Impacts

• 38% of Villages work on making their community more aging-friendly

• 22% are engaged in political advocacy• 10% work on improvements in the built

environment

• 6% sponsor public educational events

Information derived from University of California Berkeley Evaluation of CA Villages (2013)

Creating a Vision of Comprehensive Aging Services

• Individuals and Caregivers• Better health, prevention and wellness

through social engagement outlets• Individualism + active lifestyle = not

“old”• Impact on connection of health and social

support• Increase awareness and ability to navigate

system• Local and Community Providers

• Identify and champion individual preference• Break up the ‘medical’ model• Identify and embrace connection of social

and health interventions

THANK YOU.

For More Information

www.vtvnetwork.org

Candace Baldwin

Director of Strategy, Aging in Community

[email protected]