Senior cohousing with friends is now trending – and for good reason. Below are 5 reasons you might prefer senior cohousing after retirement to nursing homes and assisted living. Basically, the same way those older women cohoused on Golden Girls, many seniors are now creating cohousing communities with their favorite friends. Read on..
Last week I got punched by the guy who came to fix my internet connection. And I was happy about it.
You see I was blaming my age for NOT being confident in technology – like the “younger generation.”
The technician told me I looked young – and asked me my age. When I told him I was 58, he punched me in the arm – Elaine-from-Seinfeld style. He claimed he didn’t believe me.
Note: If you don’t know who Elaine is from Seinfeld – then I am old enough to be your mother – or even grandmother.
Karen Salmansohn, 58 years young
It’s not by accident that I’m (perhaps) a younger-looking and (definitely) younger-feeling almost 60 year old.
I’m proactively taking care of my health and longevity.
My father passed away about ten years ago – in a challenging way– so I’m highly aware of my mortality.
For many reasons, I’ve been researching longevity – for a while now.
READ NOW
In my research I discovered that “Senior Cohousing” is trending right now – which I’m very excited about – for later on in my life, when I am older.
Senior Cohousing is when you live in an “intentional neighborhood”
When you choose senior cohousing, you get to live surrounded by your friends. Plus, you share in things like the same dining area, library, fitness center, garden, TV room etc.
Longevity research states that staying social with friends and family helps to keep you living longer.
Senior Cohousing Has Longevity Benefits
It’s thereby no surprise to read that seniors who cohouse live at least ten years longer than they might otherwise live in traditional senior housing. (Note: According to the Canadian Cohousing Network).
“Senior Cohousing” is a great concept for older people like myself, who are part of what I call the “Wellderly.”
“Wellderly” means that we’re older, but don’t feel old or act our age!
TIPS: Want my secrets to living longer & younger? Check out my book, LIFE IS LONG.
With the help of the longevity tools tools I’m using I plan to remain “wellderly” for a long time to come. And so I’m very interested in exploring this cohousing concept of communal living.
Senior cohousing sounds like a blast. Plus creating cohousing communities with fellow Wellderly friends is more affordable than nursing homes and/or living alone.
After all, sharing resources saves money. When you’re a group paying for community meals it costs less than paying for groceries for one.
Plus it’s cheaper to maintain a yard, garden, library, fitness center when you’re sharing in the costs with your friends.
It is estimated that by 2050, the number of people over 60 years old will triple from what it is now.
I will soon be one of those people in that huge group – who’s looking for the most comfortable and enjoyable way to spend their senior years!
I love the idea of living in senior cohousing surrounded by friends – where I only need to walk a few feet to meet up with a someone for coffee or enjoy a walk in a shared garden.
If you’re seeking a more fun and rewarding way to spend your senior years, here are…
5 reasons you might prefer senior cohousing:
1. A True Community
With senior cohousing, you get to enjoy having your friends close by so you can share time and activities. In contrast, seniors who live alone often feel loneliness.
2. Lots Of Privacy
In assisted living seniors live in very close quarters with one another. But with senior cohousing you get your own private apartment or house!
3. Less Money
Living in a nursing home or assisted living usually costs a lot more. But with senior cohousing, you’re sharing resources with friends, so you save money.
4. Lots of Mental & Emotional Wellbeing Perks
Let’s be real. Living in a Nursing home or in Assisted Living can feel a lot more depressing than living in a shared senior cohousing community.
5. Safety
In a cohousing community neighborhood, you have neighbors around who expect to see you daily. They will notice if you’re not around. Hence if you fall, then don’t show up for a meet up, your neighbors will check in on you.
Want to be part of the Wellderly?
Do YOU hope to sloooow down the aging process and protect against age-related diseases and dementia? If so, check out my longevity book, “Life is Long: 50+ ways to live a little closer to forever”!
I researched and wrote this book because I’m a late in life mom. I promised my son I’d do everything I could to live to 100. (He asked me to live 200, but I bargained him down to 100!) I then went on a quest to learn everything I could to live longer – and younger! I spent 2 years interviewing our world’s top health and aging experts, read stacks of books and immersed myself in cutting edge research studies about longevity.
I then turned all I learned into a fun-to-read, fast-paced book, called Life Is Long.
Inside I share a wide range of longevity boosters. If you want to learn how to live longer, while maintaining good health and clarity of mind, you will love my book “Life is Long.”