Stay at Home in Wilton Participates in Sept. 25 National Simulcast about ‘Village Movement’

Stay at Home in Wilton is modeled on the “Village Movement,” an innovative and burgeoning, world-wide movement that champions an alternative approach for adults as they grow older. As one of 350-plus similar villages open and in development across the country, Stay at Home in Wilton will be participating in a simulcast on Monday, Sept. 25, that celebrates the 15th anniversary of the founding village, Beacon Hill Village, which inspired the entire movement.

The event will feature renowned surgeon, public health researcher and writer Dr. Atul Gawande as the guest speaker in a conversation, entitled “Being Mortal’s Villages: The Value of Community and Choice as we Grow Older,” moderated by Robin Young, the host of NPR’s “Here & Now.” The conversation will be followed by discussion on aging, living life with purpose, and how to transform the possibilities for the later chapters in everyone’s lives.

It will be simulcast from Boston to more than 150 of the 350-plus villages open and in development across the country, including Stay at Home in Wilton. The event is open to the public and all are welcome to join the viewing party and reception at the Wilton Historical Society at 224 Danbury Rd.. Doors open at 4:30 p.m., and the event will begin at 5 p.m..

One of the great issues world wide today is how to support and care for aging populations. By 2030, 20% of our nation’s population will be over 65, an estimated 83 million people.  The numbers are even larger in many countries around the world.

Organizers say, “The Village concept and Dr. Gawande’s profound understanding of the importance of community and choice offer valuable insights and solutions for this challenging phenomenon.”

One of the major principles that make Villages unique is that they are created by and for older adults, empowering their members to make wise, safe, and vibrant choices about how they wish to live.

Community and choice are key concepts in Dr. Gawande’s seminal book, Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End, and the underlying principles of Beacon Hill Village, whose founders were determined to remain in their own homes as they aged. To accomplish this goal, they created an organization, a virtual village, which opened in Boston’s Beacon Hill in January of 2002 and enabled people over 50 years of age the option of choosing how and where they live as they grow older.  The concepts behind Beacon Hill Village have spread across the country, thus creating a “Village Movement” and have attracted the interest of many countries around the world.

For more information about this event call Stay at Home in Wilton at 203.762.2600. Reservations are recommended for guarantee seating.

Stay at Home in Wilton is a non-profit, volunteer-supported membership organization dedicated to improving the experience of aging. For more information visit the Stay at Home in Wilton website.