WHEREAS, According to the U.S. Census Bureau, about 14% of the 1.58 million people living in Philadelphia in 2019 were 65 or older. A 2016 Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia report projected that older adults would make up 22% of the Pennsylvania-New Jersey-Delaware area by 2030, up from 15% in 2010; and
WHEREAS, Most Americans want to stay in their own homes as they age. Almost 80% of people 50 and over said in a 2018 AARP survey that they wanted to stay in their communities as long as possible, but only 46% thought they’d be able to stay in their current homes; and
WHEREAS, The Village Movement is an innovative grassroots movement that coordinates critical services for older adults. Villages are one of the most promising options to cope with the upcoming “Revolution Aging” dilemma. The Village Movement began in 1999 with a group of older adults that wanted to live in their own homes while staying engaged in social activities within their neighborhood; and
WHEREAS, The Village model recognizes the importance of community and choice for older adults while providing valuable insights and solutions for this challenging phenomenon. Since the establishment of the first “Village” in Boston, more than 350 Villages across the world and many others in development have proven that seniors aspire to age independently in their communities with the Village model; and
WHEREAS, UC Berkeley Professor Andrew Scharlach, a scholar in the field of social welfare, analyzed the Village model and concluded that “Villages represent a promising new model, with the potential for positively affecting seniors in ways that may reduce social isolation, expand access to services, increase well-being, and increase seniors’ confidence in their ability to age in their homes”; and
WHEREAS, Penn’s Village is a non-profit inspired by the Village Movement and located in central Philadelphia. It assists older neighbors in living independently by providing caring services and programs that increase social engagement through a network of volunteers; and
WHEREAS, Since its founding in 2008, Penn’s Village has increased outreach efforts to under-represented communities, membership, volunteerism, and programs and events; and
WHEREAS, Penn’s Village responded diligently in order to serve their members during the pandemic, working to alleviate loneliness and social isolation among membership through innovative virtual programming, check-in calls and a great deal of communication with members; and
WHEREAS, As many Philadelphians continue to age, the Village model and the importance of community and choice are a leading option for providing seniors with the best quality of life possible; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That it honors
Penn’s Village for its work caring for Philadelphia’s aging population, and recognizing the 20th Anniversary of the national Village Movement.
End