NEW YORK: To an aging boomer, “communal living” might conjure long-forgotten ideals from their hippie days: overcrowded homes with few boundaries and unsustainable social structures. But as the chief executive officer at one co-housing community notes, this trend — gaining traction across the nation — allows for a balance of privacy and strong social ties.
“It really is a way for communities of older individuals to come together in a community form, where they keep their own privacy but share common spaces,” she explains. “It’s a housing alternative, but also a sense of community for the individuals who live there and support each other in the process of housing and their daily living.”
It’s also an alternative to more segmented retirement communities, or to nursing homes where activities and amenities can prove too impersonal. In co-housing arrangements, residents come together and decide what kind of facilities and shared activities matter to them.
“The difference is somewhat economic, because it doesn’t require necessarily the kind of buy-in or commitment that is sometimes associated with retirement housing. It’s more like people are living independently but sharing a social space…”