Mixed methods evaluation on village neighborhood social cohesiveness and quality of life

What is it about?

The “Village” program has become an emerging, community-based, social initiative to help seniors age in place. We examined neighborhood social cohesion (NSC), or social connectedness and quality of life, from the perspective of village members. We used a mixed method evaluation approach to examine two Florida villages, a master-planned village (FV1) and a diverse neighborhood village (FV2). Both are full members of the National Village to Village Network (VtVN). The quantitative and qualitative data provided complementary and deeper understanding. Our findings showed that FV1 members perceived higher neighborhood social cohesion, and voiced that village program social activities were critical to help them building connections, especially for those who have lost loved ones and were single. Our findings point to the importance of NSC as older adults age and suggest that programs should prioritize activities that strengthen social connectness. This is the first mixed methods evaluation examining NSC and quality-of-life among village participants. Findings should be interpreted considering the predominantly white racial makeup and affluence of village participants.

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