Village to Village Network
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. We are excited to collaborate with regional groups like WAVE to further our movement and include all older adults in the Village community!
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: The Village to Village Network (VtVN) is transforming the experience of aging by helping to establish and sustain our nonprofit, volunteer-driven and community-based member Village organizations with expert guidance, mentorship, resources and opportunities to collaborate. VtVN serves as the national advocacy voice for Villages and the Village Movement.
Vision: Through innovation, collaboration, advocacy and inclusion, the Village to Village Network expands opportunity, choice, support and care for all older people.
Village to Village Network Core Principles:
- Practice consensus and transparency at all levels of the community
- Support the practice and principle of reciprocity and the intentional exchange of ideas, approaches, learnings and shared wisdom
- Create innovative programs that help develop Village leadership
- Provide a forum for member Villages to share knowledge about their issues and successes
- Celebrate diversity, equity and inclusion in all we do
- 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. Visit our website at www.vtvnetwork.org
