Aging Well with Virginia Villages Secures Continued Funding to Combat Social Isolation

​State initiative expands support for rural and underserved communities seeking Village connectionsVirginia's innovative approach to tackling social isolation among older adults has earned a second year of state funding, signaling growing recognition that peer-led communities—known as Villages—offer a powerful solution to a serious public health crisis.
The Aging Well with Virginia Villages (AWVV) program, which received continued funding from the Virginia General Assembly, is doubling down on its mission to increase older Virginians' access to Village services and connections. The initiative, managed by the Virginia Villages Collective and fiscally sponsored by the Washington Area Villages Exchange, represents the nation's first statewide effort of its kind and is being designed as a replicable model for other states.
How Villages Fill a Critical GapSocial isolation among older adults poses documented health risks comparable to smoking, according to public health research. Unlike traditional reactive interventions like nursing homes or assisted living facilities, Villages operate at the front end of the care continuum, providing practical support and meaningful connections when they're most needed to help people remain independent.
"Villages promote peer-to-peer connections and offer a variety of social engagement opportunities," explains the program framework. "They also provide practical non-medical services to foster independence, such as transportation, minor home repairs and tech support, and serve as a trusted source for information and referrals."
These volunteer-driven networks range from social clubs to comprehensive support systems, but all share a common goal: helping older adults age in community rather than in institutions.
Year One Results Paint a Promising PictureThe numbers from Virginia's existing Villages tell a compelling story. In 2025 alone, the state's 11 Villages logged:

• 191,088 volunteer-driven miles for grocery shopping, medical appointments, and errands
• 52,687 volunteer hours, valued at nearly $2 million
• 14,000+ attendees at social, wellness, and cultural events

These metrics translate to meaningful everyday support and genuine connection for thousands of older Virginians. With second-year funding, the program aims to dramatically expand these numbers by both strengthening existing Villages and helping launch new ones in underserved regions.
Building Capacity, Starting New VillagesThe AWVV program has pursued two complementary strategies in its first year.
Capacity building targeted existing Villages with small grants supporting social programming, education series, health and wellness initiatives, volunteer training, and outreach. Eleven Villages benefited from this investment.
Village development took aim at communities lacking Village infrastructure. The program conducted targeted outreach to identify groups interested in starting a Village and provided structured training, mentoring, and resources to planning groups. The results: six planning groups are currently underway in Albemarle, Bedford, Clarke, Culpeper/Madison/Orange, and Louisa counties, plus the City of Roanoke. Four additional groups are forming.
Measuring Success, Building a BlueprintAn independent evaluation team has been documenting the program's effectiveness through data collection and participant interviews. In the second year, evaluators plan to develop detailed case studies following planning groups from their initial planning stages through Village launch—creating a replicable blueprint for other jurisdictions interested in expanding the Village model.
"By continuing to build the capacity of existing Villages and starting new Villages, the Aging Well with Virginia Villages program aims to make Village connections and services available in many more communities across the Commonwealth," the program statement notes.
As Virginia's Villages network continues to expand, the message is clear: when older adults have access to community, connection, and practical support, the results benefit individual health, public health, and the broader fabric of community life.

About the Organizations
The Virginia Villages Collective (VVC) is an informal collaboration promoting the Village model's benefits and supporting Village development and growth throughout the state.
The Washington Area Villages Exchange (WAVE), the largest and oldest regional Villages association in the country, serves 81 Villages across Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, and the District of Columbia.

---