"It takes a village," not just to raise a child, but to care for our aging population. This community-based concept is being used to bring people together in a village to village network in order to provide support for seniors who want to age in their communities. The village movement is gaining momentum with participating members in 42 states representing 190 operating villages and another 185 in development. These local village model programs are self-governing, self-supporting, volunteer-based, and function as service consolidators in their areas. There are a number of models that serve differing functions but the emphasis is on supporting seniors to thrive in place, and be connected to a community that is "one phone call away." At Home Downeast (AHD) is an example of a successful village program in Maine.

At Home Downeast operates on the Acadia peninsula from Castine to Ellsworth under the auspices of the Washington Hancock Community Agency (WHCA). With the help and guidance of Kara Janes, LMSW, this volunteer program provides essential medical services to its members. These services include: rides to and from doctor's appointments and hospital procedures, as well as regular nurse visits by an RN and follow-ups when necessary. According to Kara, the participation by the volunteers not only helps the members stay healthy and thrive at home, it helps the volunteer's health as well. In addition, with the average volunteer being 75 years old, they will most likely be participating members who benefit directly from the village model in the near future. Asked how AHD might better serve its members, Kara replied that affording them more opportunities to participate in social events was her vision. Being connected to the community where they live through local events such as concerts, dinners, bingo, and other gatherings is very important to many of the members. Volunteers are encouraged to ask a member to ride with them if they plan on attending such an event.  Finally, while many village models have a fixed fee, the AHD program uses a sliding scale that ranges from $130-$2000 with the same services provided to every member.

One of the greatest challenges to AHD village model is the extremely rural nature of the Acadia Peninsula. The average ride from a member's residence to a doctor or hospital and back is around 3 to 4 hours. But for these seniors, knowing they have the assurance of a ride to their health care providers goes a long way in reducing the stress of living at home. One of the key aspects to the AHD volunteers is they only have to participate when it is convenient for them. There is an online website that they can use to register times when they are available; phone registration is also available. This way, volunteers can be matched with a member's need within their own time frame. This allows volunteers to engage and support the program on a timeline that is flexible and fits with their own busy schedules.

Starting a village model initiative in your area may seem like a daunting task, but the rewards for those in the communities it serves could be far-reaching. These models are not restricted to rural areas, but also thrive in urban areas. It's all about neighbors helping neighbors. It begins with forming a core group and exploring the possibilities. The following websites would be a good place to start exploring the village model:

http://agefriendly.community/