J Appl Gerontol. 2019 May;38(5):694-716. doi: 10.1177/0733464817690676. Epub 2017 Feb 02.

Organizational Characteristics Associated With the Predicted Sustainability of Villages.

Journal of applied gerontology : the official journal of the Southern Gerontological Society

Andrew E Scharlach, Amanda J Lehning, Joan K Davitt, Emily A Greenfield, Carrie L Graham

PMID: 28380719 DOI: 10.1177/0733464817690676

Abstract

Guided by resource dependence theory, this mixed-methods study examined organizational characteristics contributing to the perceived sustainability of Villages, a rapidly proliferating grassroots approach for promoting social participation and service access for community-dwelling older adults. Surveys conducted with leaders of 86% of Villages in the United States in 2012 found that higher predicted confidence in their Village's 10-year survival was associated with greater financial reserves, human resources, number of Village members, formal policies and procedures, and formal collaboration agreements. Respondents' explanations of their confidence ratings revealed additional themes of organizational leadership and perceived community need. Member resource inputs were not found to be as salient for Village leaders' perceptions of sustainability as was anticipated given the Village model's emphasis on consumer involvement. Despite the lack of longitudinal prospective data, study findings suggest potential limitations of consumer-driven organizational models such as Villages, including the need for a more stable resource base.

Keywords: Village model; community-based programs; consumer direction; organizational sustainability

MeSH terms

• Community Participation*
• Humans
• Independent Living* / economics
• Leadership*
• Models, Organizational
• Social Participation*
• Surveys and Questionnaires
• United States

Publication Types

• Journal Article
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't