In Oklahoma City, the number of people over 55 is expected to double from 2010 to 2020.

Marilyn Olson, Executive Director of the nonprofit, VillagesOKC, recently made a presentation to ACOG’s Area Planning and Technical Advisory Committee on the nationwide Villages movement and concept, which supports people over 50 aging-in-place.

Background

In 1999, a group of friends from the Boston area gathered to talk about their futures. They wanted to stay engaged in their own neighborhoods in their own vibrant city. But, they recognized they might need support in the future. Looking beyond conventional solutions, they defined their greatest desires: freedom and control. They wanted to be active and take care of themselves versus being taken care of. A grassroots membership organization, The Village, was born out of those initial conversations. Today, there are more than 200 Villages nationwide with 150, including the one in Oklahoma City, in development.

What Is A Village?

For starters, it’s not an actual village. It’s not a real estate development or a retirement community. It’s a group of like-minded people in a geographic area who come together and develop the resources they will need to age comfortably in their own homes. Villages bring services to people rather than moving people to services — neighbors helping neighbors create networks of support and reduced-cost professional services. For more information on this exciting new concept and opportunity, contact Olson, (405) 808-9211. You can also connect with the group on Facebook.

VillagesOKC Presentation by Olson