title: Perceived Challenges to the Sustainability of Community-Based Aging Initiatives: Findings from a National Study of Villages.
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.
authors.affiliation: a School of Social Work , University of Maryland , Baltimore , Maryland , USA.
authors.forename: Amanda
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lehning
authors.affiliation: b School of Social Welfare , University of California at Berkeley , Berkeley , California , USA.
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Scharlach
authors.affiliation: c Prevention Research Center , Oakland , California , USA.
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Price Wolf
authors.affiliation: a School of Social Work , University of Maryland , Baltimore , Maryland , USA.
authors.forename: Joan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Davitt
authors.affiliation: a School of Social Work , University of Maryland , Baltimore , Maryland , USA.
authors.forename: Hilary
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wiseman
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D019058:Community Networks / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005260:Female; D006707:Homes for the Aged / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D057187:Independent Living / Q000523:psychology / Q000592:standards; D008297:Male; D017146:Models, Organizational; D020380:Needs Assessment; D024382:Professional Role; D036301:Qualitative Research; D011788:Quality of Life; D012112:Residential Facilities / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012944:Social Support; D000068217:Social Workers; D014481:United States
keywords: aging in place; community practice; non-profit sustainability