Would you consider living in a co-housing project? Especially when getting older and without...

I lived in a student co-operative co-housing while going to university. Great experience. Such a diversity of residents in ethnicity, race, religion, backgrounds. Not in gender because it was before the days of co-ed housing, but more in age than you would see today because we had a lot of veterans from WWII and Korea attending on the GI Bill. We all had to contribute 5 hours a week in workshifts to reduce the cost of room-and-board.

My mother was in a co-housing facility in her later years, until we had to move her into a full nursing home situation. The combination of independence -- she even had a kitchenette for breakfast and light meals if she chose -- and socialization in the common areas, and main meals together, was ideal for her. Also the location, as it was next to a school where she could tutor and walking distance to a shopping area.

I'm not sure how I would feel living in a co-housing facility solely for the elderly. I believe aging is greatly affected by your mental approach to it, and being in multi-generational settings with the added stimulus of younger people about, is an antidote to the physical/chronological parts of aging.

ThePatientAnarchist · 61-69

A number of people we know live in the same co-op, near our house, which is similar to what you describe. It is a nice building in a good neighbourhood and seems to be a lovely community. My wife and I are on the waiting list, as an option for when we get too old for our house.

OlderSometimesWiser · F

Could go a long way towards alleviating the growing problem of loneliness we’re seeing in society.

NerdyPotato ·

I wouldn't share a bathroom, kitchen and living room anymore. Those student days are behind me. But a communal room and shared garden sounds good.

icedsky · 51-55, M

My neighborhood is pretty much like that already. We all pretty much look after each other.

HootyTheNightOwl

For me, it depends on how much privacy I get.

I've always preferred to be by myself (or with a small group of close friends) for more of the time than I like to spend socialising - so I wouldn't be looking to change that as I age... but, equally, I wouldn't like to be closed out either.

Nor would I like others trying to force me to socialise when I just don't have it in me to do it. People are draining to me... I need to recharge by myself frequently.

CrazyMusicLover · 31-35

I'd rather have good neighbours that I could trust.

bowman81 · M

I'm an independent type. I would resist that arrangement until I couldn't handle living in my own home. I spent a lot of time in apartments when younger and never did like my neighbors quite that close.

Berti33 · 41-45, F

Yes. It's a very practical idea especially in old age. You can have facilities of garden and gym and may be a swimming pool too.

Ontheroad · M

Done right, they are a good alternative for some, but often (at least in the U.S.), they are prohibitively expensive or run down and not well taken care of.

SunshineGirl · 36-40, F

I would prefer shared spaces to be in the general community, freely available to all, but the principle of communal living is a really interesting solution to housing shortages and ageing populations.

YMITheWayIM · 46-50, M

Yes.

in10RjFox · MVIP

There are lots of senior citizens housing developing these days where flats are small but large community space and activity. Especially popular amidst parents with children overseas.