A new trend that is spreading across the country provides the elderly with a different retirement living option. USA Today reports that more than 50 so-called villages have sprung up and allow retirement-age individuals to still live at home while enjoying the services of assisted living communities.
"Villages are one way people can lead the life they want to live," vice president Mimi Castaldi told the news source.
"They’ve caught the imagination of people."
The communities are largely volunteer-run and are funded by resident fees and grants. Among the services offered are transportation, home repair and dog walking.
For some, like 90-year-old Maurine Phinise villages are a welcome change from routine housing options. Phinise lives in a Washington, D.C. area village and enjoys all the services provided by a nursing home while still being able to live in the home she has occupied since 1951.
The growing presence of villages could be increasingly important in the coming years as Baby Boomers reach retirement age. According to the Administration on Aging, by 2030 there will be 72.1 million people in the United States over the age of 65 – a stark contrast from the 39.6 million in 2009.
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