History

From the beginning the idea for SAIL evolved from needs in our community and direct input from local seniors. Our parent organization, AgeBetter, Inc., sponsored a public forum in 2002. The forum addressed the needs of the growing population of people 60 years of age and better in Dane County and explored the resources that would be of benefit to older adults.

Using input from this forum, AgeBetter, Inc. submitted a proposal to the U.S. Agency on Aging for a one-year Naturally Occurring Retirement Community (NORC) Demonstration Project, a term coined by SAIL colleague and University of Wisconsin School of Human Ecology Professor, Dr. Michael Hunt. In 2004, AgeBetter received a federal appropriation to begin the project, in addition to receiving funding from the Madison Community Foundation. The NORC Demonstration began offering services on March 1, 2005.

The project was named SAIL, short for Sharing Active Independent Lives, and had an overarching goal to keep people healthy, independent, and in their own homes as they age. As a nonprofit membership organization, it was designed to be economical and self-sustaining. It was a great idea. So great, that across the country in Boston, MA, a similar organization had formed independently three years earlier, Beacon Hill Village. They sponsored a national conference in May 2007 and SAIL’s Program Director Ann Albert attended, representing the only other similar model known at that time.

The conference was the beginning of what is now called the “village movement” with Beacon Hill Village in the forefront, and SAIL joining forces to share information and materials as several more “villages” were formed across the country. In 2010 Beacon Hill Village established a formal organization for the groups, the Village to Village Network. SAIL is an active member.

In 2020 SAIL celebrated 15 years of success. In these videos you’ll hear charter members discuss the vision and accomplishments of those formative years.