Category: cohousing

What does it take to age well together? On Varsity’s Roundtable Talk, Barbara Sullivan, National Director of the Village to Village Network, shared how the growing “village movement” is helping older adults stay independent while staying connected, redefining what it means to age in place.

Derek and Barbara discussed how villages serve the “missing middle,” the vital role of volunteers, and creative partnerships with senior living, healthcare, and faith-based groups. Barbara also shared how villages combat social isolation and her vision to expand the movement.

The following are some fresh perspectives from the conversation. Check out the full episode here. 

HOW DO YOU EXPLAIN THE CORE PHILOSOPHY BEHIND THE VILLAGE MOVEMENT?

You know, the village model was created to serve that missing middle, the middle class. It started up in Boston about 25 years ago. It’s an alternative to aging at home — aging in your community — with practical, community-driven support services. Most of the villages are volunteer first, so it’s about neighbor helping neighbor, keeping people active, engaged, and independent.

WHAT INSPIRED THE FOUNDING OF THE VILLAGE TO VILLAGE NETWORK, AND HOW HAS IT EVOLVED SINCE THEN?

The founding was in Boston, when a group of homeowners in the Beacon Hill section said, “We love our homes and neighborhoods — how do we stay here?” Affordability was a factor, too. They opened in 2002, and by 2007, The New York Times wrote about the movement, and it exploded. You saw villages popping up everywhere — Washington, D.C., California, Chicago — all building on that same model of community and independence.

HOW DID YOU FIRST GET INVOLVED WITH THE VILLAGE MOVEMENT?

In 2007, I was an assisted living administrator in Northern Virginia when a group of homeowners approached me about starting a village. My company wasn’t thrilled — they wanted people to move into the community, not stay home — but I fell in love with the model. I joined their board, and by 2010, I was running the village. My passion for older adults really came from my father, who chaired the House Select Committee on Aging. I grew up visiting nursing homes with him — that’s where I caught the bug.

WHAT MAKES THE VILLAGE MODEL DIFFERENT FROM TRADITIONAL SENIOR LIVING COMMUNITIES?

Number one, people are living in their own homes — and more importantly, in their own communities. Villages help people stay independent and live on their own terms. Some people will still need to move into senior living, and that’s okay — we often partner with those communities. We share programs, sponsor events together, and build on each other’s strengths. It’s not competition — it’s collaboration.

WHAT DOES “THE MISSING MIDDLE” MEAN, AND WHY DOES THE VILLAGE MODEL MATTER FOR THAT GROUP?

The “missing middle” are people who can’t afford life-care communities but also don’t qualify for government services. They’re independent but might need small supports — like a ride, help around the house, or connection to community programs. Villages connect those dots. They help people find what’s already in their community and bring purpose back through engagement and volunteering.

WHAT ARE YOUR HOPES FOR THE FUTURE OF THE VILLAGE MOVEMENT?

In five years, I’d love to add 500 villages — a hundred a year. Realistically, that’s a stretch, but we can aim high. We already have about 150 villages that are more than ten years old, which shows the model works. I see more partnerships ahead — with healthcare systems, senior living, and organizations like LeadingAge. We’re here to stay, and the future is about scaling and sustainability through collaboration.

Want to hear more from Barbara? Check out the full episode of Roundtable Talk for more fresh perspectives. Watch new episodes of Roundtable Talk on the Varsity website and on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and iHeartRadio.

Christina Marshall is a seasoned senior living professional with over 17 years of experience in sales, marketing, and operations for senior communities. She’s also passionate about holistic aging and is committed to building and growing cohousing communities across the Midwest.

In a recent presentation on Varsity’s Roundtable, Christina discussed the challenges of traditional housing, offered a closer look at what cohousing is (and why it’s important) and introduced us to the typical cohousing customer.

TRADITIONAL SENIOR LIVING ISN’T FOR EVERYONE

Senior living has its fair share of hurdles. It works well for some, but it’s not a one-size-fits-all solution. A lot of communities are big buildings with 150 or more units—great for some, but for others, it can feel like navigating a maze. Even though senior living has come a long way, it still leans toward an institutional feel, where the focus is more on the logistics of moving people through the system than creating a truly personal, authentic experience.

WHAT IS COHOUSING? 

This leads us into what cohousing actually is. A lot of people hear “cohousing” and jump to the idea of a commune, but that’s a big misunderstanding. Cohousing is really about intentional communities—places built around a shared purpose. In this case, the intention is to live in a community.

Cohousing is a broad concept, but at its core, it’s a style of community development where people have their own private homes while sharing common areas and resources. It’s all about encouraging social connections, collaboration, and sustainable living.

RESIDENT-DRIVEN HOUSING

Cohousing communities usually consist of 20 to 40 private homes, intentionally smaller in size—often no more than three bedrooms or around 1,600 square feet—to maintain sustainability. Homes come in different forms, from stacked flats to townhomes or even standalone cottages. What makes cohousing unique is that it’s resident-driven; unlike senior living, which is built and designed by developers, cohousing communities are shaped by the people who actually live there.

AN OPTION FOR ALL GENERATIONS

Cohousing serves all generations, with around 150 communities across the U.S., from senior-specific to multi-generational setups. In these mixed-age communities, seniors benefit from the energy and support of younger families, while young families find it easier to raise kids with neighborly help. Kids especially thrive in cohousing, gaining safe, fun spaces with multiple adult role models, reinforcing civility and support beyond their parents.

While most cohousing communities are on the East and West Coasts, the Midwest lacks options, largely because these projects are resident-driven and often require specific expertise to get started.

Varsity’s Roundtable is a weekly virtual gathering of senior living marketers and leaders from across the nation. For updates about future weekly Roundtable gatherings, submit your name and email address here.