July 21, 2026
Solo Agers Find Support Through The Village Movement
A recent NPR story on the rising number of solo agers spotlighted a growing national movement that Village Movement California is proud to be part of: the Villages.
The story features The Village Common of Rhode Island, one of dozens of hyperlocal, largely volunteer-run villages across the country that help people stay independent as they age. These aren’t retirement communities. They’re grassroots networks offering rides to appointments, help with small household tasks, friendly check-ins, and social connection.
The movement started 25 years ago with a single village in Boston and has since spread nationwide. According to Barbara Hughes-Sullivan, executive director of the Village to Village Network, solo agers make up “anywhere from 30 to 60%” of village membership, depending on the individual village, even though villages weren’t designed specifically for that group.
Read the full NPR story here: Solo agers are a growing group. Changes that would help them could help everyone.
