Perceived Challenges to the Sustainability of Community-Based Aging Initiatives: Findings from a National Study of Villages |
| |
| Authors: | Amanda Lehning Andrew Scharlach Jennifer Price Wolf Joan Davitt Hilary Wiseman |
| |
| Affiliation: | 1. School of Social Work, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland, USAalehning@ssw.umaryland.edu;3. School of Social Welfare, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, California, USA;4. Prevention Research Center, Oakland, California, USA;5. School of Social Work, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland, USA |
| |
| Abstract: | Concerns have been raised regarding the sustainability of Villages, a rapidly-expanding set of organizations that typically use a participant-directed approach to improve older adults’ quality of life and ability to age in place. Using online survey and telephone-interview data from a 2013 follow-up study of Villages across the United States, this study examined organizational leaders’ perceptions of the major challenges to sustainability. Major challenges identified included: (a) funding, (b) membership recruitment, (c) leadership development, (d) meeting members’ service needs, and (e) limitations of the Village model itself. Findings point to a number of important considerations for the development, implementation, and sustainability of the Village model, including the role of social workers in addressing these challenges. |
| |
| Keywords: | aging in place community practice non-profit sustainability |
|
|
