Villages are a part of the "aging in place" movement,[5][6] and are found in the United States, Canada, Australia, and the Netherlands, as well as South Korea and Finland.
Services offered typically include transportation, light home maintenance and repair, and social activities.
[7][8] Approximately one dozen residents of the historic neighborhood wanted "to remain at home" once transportation and household chores became difficult, dangerous, or even impossible.
[9] After four years in existence, Beacon Hill Village was the subject of an article in The New York Times,[11] and the idea spread.
[17] They provide such services as transportation, grocery delivery, light home repairs, and dog walking, as well as organizing social activities.
Dues are higher (and often subsidized for low-income members), and the level of services (which are typically provided without additional charge) tends to be more comprehensive.
[17] Historically, Villages have tended to operate in urban areas, with significant concentrations of both service providers and recipients, but they are spreading.
[17] Currently, Villages are largely found in middle-class and upper-income neighborhoods; the movement has received some criticism for its perceived failure to reach more diverse communities to date.
[26] The Beacon Hill Village[27] in Boston began as a community of older adults joining forces to create "programs and services that will enable them to live at home, remaining independent as long as possible."
[28] Volunteers provide transportation, shopping, household chores, gardening, and light home maintenance.
[28] The ‘Village’ model relies on the collective abilities of the community to respond to challenges face in the aging process.
[28] The ‘Village’ also works to build a shared sense of community through social activities including potluck dinners, book clubs, and educational programs.