In this episode of The Navigating Solo™ Podcast, host Ailene Gerhardt sits down with Barbara Hughes Sullivan, Executive Director of the Village to Village Network, to explore how the Village Movement is transforming aging in community. Together, they discuss how villages empower older adults, including solo agers, to remain independent while building strong, trusted networks of support. Barbara shares stories from across the country of neighbors helping neighbors, from volunteers creating men’s social programs to villages organizing emergency responses during natural disasters.

They also unpack why “I’m not ready yet” can delay access to vital community connections, how villages rigorously vet service providers, and why partnerships with local organizations, from assisted livings to contractors, help expand reach and safety.

Barbara offers insight into how new villages form, what’s next for the national movement, and how listeners can get involved or start one in their own area.

• The Village Model connects older adults to community-driven services and social engagement.

• Villages play a vital role for solo agers, providing both safety nets and belonging.

• “I’m not ready yet” often shifts quickly, having a Plan B matters.

• Vetting, peer-to-peer trust, and volunteerism are the backbone of successful villages.

• New models like hub-and-spoke structures and regional incubators make villages more scalable.

• The Village to Village Network’s Healthy Aging in Villages research and 2025 national census will map the movement’s next phase.

About Our Guest: Barbara Sullivan is the Executive Director of the Village to Village Network (VtVN), the national organization supporting more than 300 Villages across the U.S. and internationally. Under her leadership, VtVN fosters innovation, mentorship, and collaboration within the grassroots movement helping older adults age in community with confidence and connection.

• Village to Village Network

• Villages Research Project – Rutgers University

• Navigating Solo™ Network

If you are curious about starting or joining a Village, or how community models like these can support your solo aging journey, explore the Village to Village Network map and resources, and visit NavigatingSolo.com for more episodes and guidance on planning for an independent, connected future.

----------------------------------------------------------------

Connect with The Village to Village Movement:

• Website: https://www.vtvnetwork.org/
• Email: vtv@vtvnetwork.org
• Facebook: villagetovillagenetwork
• LinkedIn: village-to-village-network

Connect with Host Ailene Gerhardt, BCPA, CSA:

• Beacon Patient Solutions LLC: BeaconPatientSolutions.com, Email: info@beaconpatientsolutions.com
• The Navigating Solo Network™: NavigatingSolo.com Email: info@navigatingsolo.com
• The Navigating Solo™ Podcast: podcast@navigatingsolo.com

View this discussion on our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@navigatingsolonetwork/videos

Subscribe and follow us for more insightful episodes, and don’t forget to visit navigatingsolo.com for resources, updates, and more!

© 2025, Beacon Patient Solutions LLC. All Rights Reserved.

In this deeply personal solo episode of The Navigating Solo™ Podcast, host Ailene Gerhardt, board-certified patient advocate and founder of the Navigating Solo™ Network, shares what it’s been like to shift from supporting others through health challenges to facing a health challenges of her own.

Ailene reflects on the emotional and physical toll of multiple diagnoses, hospitalizations, and ongoing treatments—all while living independently. She speaks candidly about the loss of routine, the disruption to her work, and the vulnerability of stepping into the role of patient after years of advocating for others.

Through sharing her story, Ailene explores:

• The blurred line between professional advocate and patient

• How illness can challenge identity and sense of control

• The critical importance of compassionate, person-centered care

• What it means to be present for yourself when your life feels upended

• How asking for help and acknowledging limitations can be acts of strength

This episode is a reminder that behind every diagnosis is a whole person—and that even those who guide others through healthcare systems need support too.

Resources & Links:

• Learn more about the Navigating Solo™ Network: https://navigatingsolo.com

• Listen to past episodes of the podcast: @navigatingsolo

• Ailene has also written an article for Next Avenue about her experience and you can read it here!

Connect with Host Ailene Gerhardt, BCPA, CSA:

• Beacon Patient Solutions LLC: BeaconPatientSolutions.com, Email: info@beaconpatientsolutions.com
• The Navigating Solo Network™: NavigatingSolo.com Email: info@navigatingsolo.com
• The Navigating Solo™ Podcast: podcast@navigatingsolo.com

View this discussion on our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@navigatingsolonetwork/videos

Subscribe and follow us for more insightful episodes, and don’t forget to visit navigatingsolo.com for resources, updates, and more!

© 2025, Beacon Patient Solutions LLC. All Rights Reserved.

If this episode resonates with you, please consider sharing it with someone who may need to hear it. And don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review.

In this insightful episode of The Navigating Solo™ Podcast, host Ailene Gerhardt sits down with Cathleen Toomey, host of the podcast Seniority Authority to discuss all things aging! They dive into the evolving landscape of solo aging, exploring how living longer presents both unique opportunities and challenges. Cathleen shares insights on the importance of social connection and community involvement as we age, highlighting how volunteering and small acts of kindness can build meaningful relationships and improve well-being.

They also discuss the impact of negative self-talk and the barriers it can create when trying to form new connections, as well as practical ways to overcome these challenges by stepping slightly out of our comfort zones. Additionally, we address common misconceptions about solo aging, especially around living arrangements like continuing care retirement communities, assisted living, and memory care.

Tune in to gain practical tips for embracing longevity with intention and planning, and learn why social connection remains a vital component of healthy solo aging.

Books and Websites Mentioned During This Episode:

• The Good Life: Lessons from the World's Longest Scientific Study of Happiness

• Breaking the Age Code: How Your Beliefs About Aging Determine How Long and Well You Live, Becca Levy

• Six Steps to Managing Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia: A Guide for Families, Maureen O-Connor

• Seven Steps to Managing Your Aging Memory, Maureen O-Connor

Websites:

• Medicare Plan Options
• Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade
• Where You Live Matters
• National Good Neighbor Day
• National Healthcare Decisions Day

----------------------------------------------------------------

Connect with Cathleen Toomey:

• Website: seniorityauthority.org
• Email: info@seniorityauthority.org
• Facebook: SeniorityAuthority
• LinkedIn: cathleen-toomey-8889531
• Podcast: seniorityauthority.org

Connect with Host Ailene Gerhardt, BCPA, CSA:

• Beacon Patient Solutions LLC: BeaconPatientSolutions.com, Email: info@beaconpatientsolutions.com
• The Navigating Solo Network™: NavigatingSolo.com Email: info@navigatingsolo.com
• The Navigating Solo™ Podcast: podcast@navigatingsolo.com

View this discussion on our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@navigatingsolonetwork/videos

Subscribe and follow us for more insightful episodes, and don’t forget to visit navigatingsolo.com for resources, updates, and more!

© 2025, Beacon Patient Solutions LLC. All Rights Reserved.