Independent Together: Villages and the New Map for Aging in Community

In this episode of The Navigating Solo™ Podcast, host Ailene Gerhardt sits down with Barbara Hughes Sullivan, Executive Director of the Village to Village Network, to explore how the Village Movement is transforming aging in community. Together, they discuss how villages empower older adults, including solo agers, to remain independent while building strong, trusted networks of support. Barbara shares stories from across the country of neighbors helping neighbors, from volunteers creating men’s social programs to villages organizing emergency responses during natural disasters.

They also unpack why “I’m not ready yet” can delay access to vital community connections, how villages rigorously vet service providers, and why partnerships with local organizations, from assisted livings to contractors, help expand reach and safety.

Barbara offers insight into how new villages form, what’s next for the national movement, and how listeners can get involved or start one in their own area.

Key Takeaways

• The Village Model connects older adults to community-driven services and social engagement.

• Villages play a vital role for solo agers, providing both safety nets and belonging.

• “I’m not ready yet” often shifts quickly, having a Plan B matters.

• Vetting, peer-to-peer trust, and volunteerism are the backbone of successful villages.

• New models like hub-and-spoke structures and regional incubators make villages more scalable.

• The Village to Village Network’s Healthy Aging in Villages research and 2025 national census will map the movement’s next phase.

About Our Guest:
Barbara Sullivan is the Executive Director of the Village to Village Network (VtVN), the national organization supporting more than 300 Villages across the U.S. and internationally. Under her leadership, VtVN fosters innovation, mentorship, and collaboration within the grassroots movement helping older adults age in community with confidence and connection.

Resources & Links

• Village to Village Network

• Villages Research Project – Rutgers University

• Navigating Solo™ Network

If you are curious about starting or joining a Village, or how community models like these can support your solo aging journey, explore the Village to Village Network map and resources, and visit NavigatingSolo.com for more episodes and guidance on planning for an independent, connected future.

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Connect with The Village to Village Movement:

• Website: https://www.vtvnetwork.org/
• Email: vtv@vtvnetwork.org
• Facebook: villagetovillagenetwork
• LinkedIn: village-to-village-network

Connect with Host Ailene Gerhardt, BCPA, CSA:

• Beacon Patient Solutions LLC: BeaconPatientSolutions.com, Email: info@beaconpatientsolutions.com
• The Navigating Solo Network™: NavigatingSolo.com Email: info@navigatingsolo.com
• The Navigating Solo™ Podcast: podcast@navigatingsolo.com

View this discussion on our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@navigatingsolonetwork/videos

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