Beacon Hill Village, Boston

Project Selection

Beacon Hill Village may contain a number of the following features but it has been identified by the Steering Committee specifically because it:

The following project description was formed using information obtained from the Beacon Hill website www.beaconhillvillage.org

Project Overview

The Beacon Hill Village is a non-profit organisation created by and for local residents of Beacon Hill, Boston in 2001. The project is considered to be the pioneer of the increasingly popular ‘village’ movement, which aims to provide residents with an alternative to moving from their houses to retirement or assisted living communities by offering programs and services that support them to age in place.

Why it is an innovative project

Beacon Hill Village enables a diverse group of Boston residents to stay in their neighbourhoods as they age, by organizing and delivering programs and services that allow them to lead safe, healthy productive lives in their own homes. From groceries to Tai Chi to cultural and social activities to home care, Beacon Hill Village members are able to obtain what they need to remain living in the community.

Service Model

Beacon Hill Village was founded by local residents. They didn’t like the options older people had for ageing such as moving to retirement villages, they wanted to find a way for older people to age in place in their communities. Beacon Hill undertakes three main tasks:

1. Information and referral for local services and programs
2. Assisted living (assistance for staying in the home)
3. Community building.

Beacon Hill describe their service model as one that provides “anything and everything”. Membership to the village includes access to a number of services and for those not included, a concierge service is available to refer members to discounted, vetted providers. Member benefits include:

Access to Health and Wellness programs:

• Walking groups and exercise classes with a personal trainer
• Geriatric care management anywhere in the US
• Preferred access to Senior Medical Practice at Massachusetts General Hospital
• Rides home from a medical procedure that are required by the hospital/doctor

Social and Cultural activities:

• Volunteer opportunities in the community
• Member only events—travel, film, singles, second cup, lunch groups, & cocktail parties
• Monthly programs that are free to members: conversations With Boston notables, museum trips, cultural events, and more

Discounts:

• Weekly transportation to grocery stores or home-delivered groceries.
• Discount prescription drug card
• Discounts - generally from 10 to 50% of the standard rate - to all providers including electricians, plumbers, organizers, personal trainers, massage therapists, homecare specialist.

Who the project serves

The Beacon Hill Village is targeted at residents aged 50 and over of Beacon Hill and the surrounding areas. The Village currently has members aged from 51 to 101 and most members of the Village are in their early 70s.

“ Members join for many reasons.  Some participate mostly because it's fun - they enjoy the parties, programs and trips.  Others especially prize the conveniences - calling one number to get all kinds of services, whether it's a plumber, an accountant, a driver or a massage.  Discounts and savings are a benefit too!  Some members discover new social connections as volunteers in the neighbourhood and beyond.  For them, the community aspect is the most important reason for joining.  Only a few of our members need home health care, but many members (and their families) find it reassuring to know the people and resources who can help if and when such a need arises.  It's a kind of insurance policy, whether the need is temporary (e.g. after surgery) or long-term.  BHV can even link its members to emergency health care abroad and to geriatric health care for member's relatives in other parts of the US.”

Funding Sources

The Village has 435k per year in income, 30% of this is from donations from the community. The Village does not get state, local or federal funding because they do not what the Government to take control of the Village.

At US$640 per year for individuals or $890 for a household, around half of Beacon Hill’s funding is from membership dues. For low-income residents, Beacon Hill offers a ‘Membership Plus’ program to assist residents aged 60 and older.

As the pioneer of the ‘village’ concept, Beacon Hill can be contracted to consult with groups creating their own models. The Village Concept: A Founder’s Manual is Beacon Hill’s guide to starting a Village which retails at $350 for non-profit and neighbourhood groups or $500 for municipalities and for-profit organisations.

Project Auspice

Beacon Hill Village is a membership organization in the heart of Boston.  Created by a group of long-time Beacon Hill residents as an alternative to moving from their houses to retirement or assisted living communities.