[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 21 (Wednesday, February 2, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E94-E95]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            HONORING BEACON HILL VILLAGE'S 20TH ANNIVERSARY

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. STEPHEN F. LYNCH

                            of massachusetts

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 2, 2022

  Mr. LYNCH. Madam Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the 20th 
anniversary of Beacon Hill Village in Boston. It's an anniversary with 
significance for the whole Nation and they are to be congratulated on 
reaching this special milestone.
  Madam Speaker, Beacon Hill Village was created by, and for, neighbors 
determined to continue to thrive and grow in the neighborhood they 
loved, as they aged. There was no ready model when they began. A core 
goal of Beacon Hill Village members was living active, independent, and 
healthy lives. There is not much choice about growing old, but there 
are choices about where and how to do so. The Village offers those 
choices to its members and so much more, including maintaining and 
enhancing quality of life, providing peace of mind, enabling purposeful 
lives, and helping to navigate the transitions of growing older.
  From its start in 2002 Beacon Hill Village has spawned a movement 
that continues to spread across the U.S. and in other countries. Today 
there are 263 open and 70 developing Villages serving thousands of 
older adults from major cities to small, rural communities. These 
Villages are all across the nation--in 43 states and the District of 
Columbia--and In four countries abroad. While many Villages were formed 
through grass roots efforts led by a few passionate people, Villages 
have also grown from faith-based groups, social service partnerships, 
and through existing community service organizations.

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  Beacon Hill Village was the chief force behind the creation of the 
Village to Village Network which remains dedicated to helping 
communities everywhere design their own Villages reflecting local needs 
and using local resources. Local Villages connect members to a full 
range of practical support services to help with non-medical household 
tasks, services, programs and transportation. Villages also promote 
staying active by coordinating recreational, social, educational and 
cultural programs. These social activities minimize isolation and 
promote interaction amongst their peers.
  Madam Speaker, I am convinced, that the best days of Beacon Hill 
Village, the Village-to-Village Network and the Villages of the Nation, 
are still ahead of them. Their message is simple, forceful and 
optimistic: aging should be Individual, and person-centered. Villages 
can help their members take responsibility for their own aging and make 
choices resulting in vibrant, purposeful lives lived on their own 
terms, in their own homes and communities. With this message the 
Villages are changing how elders experience aging and how our society 
perceives aging. Every American benefits from these changes. This 
community-based movement offers an economically efficient model for 
aging.
  The COVID-19 pandemic has shown a bright light on the power of 
Villages to deliver essential services, keep members engaged and 
connected safely, and provide critical information during a time of 
great stress and confusion. Seemingly overnight, VIiiages turned in-
person events and activities into virtual programming, trained their 
members to use Zoom, and partnered with existing services and resources 
to ensure members had what they needed, especially during lockdown. Not 
only did Villages and their members thrive during the pandemic, they 
demonstrated the power of community.
  By 2030, every Baby Boomer will be age 65 or older, which means that 
1 out of every 5 U.S. citizens will be of retirement age. The numbers 
are even larger In many countries around the world. The Village model 
and the importance of community and choice offer valuable insights and 
solutions for this challenging phenomenon.
  Madam Speaker, in recognition of the positive impact that the village 
movement has had on the experience of aging, I ask that my colleagues 
join me in congratulating Beacon Hill Village on its 20th anniversary 
and saluting all villages throughout the Nation.

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