Aging in a Communal Place
(photo FOUNDsf)
When the truth is found to be lies and all the joy within you dies don’t you want somebody to love don’t you need somebody to love…
I was reading a story about 91 year old, Jean Stevens from Wyalusing, Pennsylvania, who had been aging in place with her husband of 60 years, along with her twin sister June. Nothing unusual here, except for the fact that her loved ones are both deceased.
Husband James’s corpse was exhumed shortly after his funeral and strategically settled on the couch in the garage; where it has remained for over a decade. Her twin sister June, who died last October, resided in the spare bedroom dressed in her best house-coat; doused in her favorite perfume.
When authorities uncovered the morbid “living arrangements,” Jean Stevens calmly reported: “When you put them in the cemetery, that’s good-by…” Seems Jean wasn’t ready to let go.
Aging in Place Alone, Single, and Female
Single women find particular harbor in CoHousing. -Senior CoHousing: A Community Approach to Independent Living by Charles Durrett, 2005, P. 187
The population 65 and over has increased from 35 million in 2000 to 40 million in 2010 (a 15% increase) and will then increase to 55 million in 2020 (a 36% increase for that decade).
The 85+ population saw an increase from 4.2 million in 2000 to 5.7 million in 2010 (a 36% increase) and is projected to 6.6 million in 2020 (a 15% increase for that decade).
Over half (54.6%) the older non-institutionalized persons lived with their spouse in 2008. Approximately 11.3 million or 72.0% of older men, and 8.6 million or 41.7% of older women, lived with their spouse. The proportion living with their spouse decreased with age, especially for women. Only 28.9% of women 75+ years old lived with a spouse.
About 30.5% (11.2 million) of all non-institutionalized older persons in 2008 lived alone (8.3 million women, 2.9 million men). They represented 39.5 of older women and 18.5% of older men. The proportion living alone increases with advanced age. Among women aged 75 and over, for example, half (50%) lived alone.
Senior CoHousing: Recreating a Sense of Place and Home
Some years ago I lost my husband and went through a difficult time. But I am glad that I lived here when it happened since it meant that I never felt unsafe. I was not together with other residents all the time but I knew they were there for me if I needed them. And when I came home at night I could feel the warmth approach me as I drove up our driveway.
-Mollebjerg in Korsor p.3
Like many others seeking solutions to challenges facing elderly family members, architect Charles Durrett found an old idea—with a contemporary approach; he coined it “CoHousing.”
Durrett challenges us to Imagine living in multiple individually owned housing units (20-30) which are oriented around a common/community open area. A place where community is a lifestyle and recreating an old-fashioned neighborhood which supports cooperation and socialization is reality—that’s his vision for senior CoHousing.
CoHousing has been prevalent in Europe and is catching on in America. As of 2005, there were 100 of these existing communities in the country, about 20 under construction, with approximately 150 more in the planning stages.
Six Components of CoHousing
From urban factory loft conversions to suburban cities and small towns, CoHousing takes many forms—yet shares these six components:
1. Participatory Process: Residents organize and participate in the planning/design process for housing development—and are responsible as a group for final decisions.
2. Deliberate Neighborhood Design: The physical design encourages a strong sense of community.
3. Extensive Common Facilities: An integral part of the community, common areas are designed for daily use, to supplement private living areas.
4. Complete Resident Management: Residents manage the development, making decisions of common concerns at community meetings.
5. Non-Hierarchical Structure: There are not really leadership roles; the responsibility for the decisions is shared by the community’s adults.
6. Separate Income Sources: If the community provides residents with their primary income, this is a significant change to the dynamic between neighbors and defines another level of community beyond the scope of CoHousing.
CoHousing is an emerging alternative to traditional senior housing which can provide the best of both worlds; independence for aging in place, and community/socialization on demand.
No need to dig up deceased relatives when you’re feeling a little lonely; just stroll into the common space and join the conversation…
From a public policy perspective, the preventive value of a CoHousing community, which reduces isolation, encourages social activity, and supports members through illness or bereavement, is inestimable.
–Maria Brenton p. 196
See
Mourning the Death of a Spouse
frogsong CoHousing, Cotati, CA
Silver Age CoHousing, Boulder CO
Sustainable CoHousing Communities
Senior Cohousing: A Community Approach to Independent Living by Charles Durrett
The Dead Economy Redefines Retirement for Baby Boomers
Magdalene Jaeckel
Anyone interested in adult cohousing, check out our website:www.wolfcreeklodge.org We are a group of active adults from 55 to 87,and have been preparing for our beautiful Lodge for the last three years. the Lodge is designed by Charles Durrett,the founder of co housing in America. We have grown together as a community and have become good friends. This month construction will start, and in 15 months we will be neighbors. We are in beautiful Grass Valley, California, in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada. Our town is rich in cultural activities and close to all kinds of outdoor recreation. We are filling up fast: Of the 33 apartments only 7 are still available. We like to hear from you.Magdalene Jaeckel for Wolf Creek Lodge