More on Co-Housing

Co-housing was addressed here yesterday. Much more can be said about the concept. In time the discussion will become rich with possibilities, pitfalls and potential solutions. Talking about the subject stretches our minds around the topic and expands both our understanding of the issue as well as the solutions that are readily available.

The alternatives to co-housing are mostly negative. These dark blots are what co-housing is designed to eliminate or at least soften.  Here’s a partial list of the negatives attempting to be avoided:

• Running out of money as a senior citizen; co-housing stretches resources so the person or couple can remain independent as long as possible
• Serious injury caused by doing housework while no longer able; think changing light bulbs in an overhead fixture and standing on a shaky platform to reach the socket – and falling
• Heart attacks from shoveling snow or doing yard work too heavy for our capability
• Dying alone and in pain out of sight and mind of a supportive community
• Wasting plentiful housing resources now standing empty and unused
• Social connections wasting away to nothing as peers move away or die; those who remain become isolated 

There are other things to think about. If your town doesn’t have alternative housing to retain its elder population they will move away and your community will be denied their skills, knowledge and valuable insight. This brain drain is a threat that most communities cannot afford.

In past generations multi-generation family living arrangements were common. Grandma lived with us, at times so did an aunt or uncle. This was part of our national social compact, not a form of charity. It enriched households. Of course it also challenged younger generations but those challenges kept them realistic and forward thinking about their own eventual aging and care requirements.  Perhaps we should rethink of these elements again?

Today we keep the generations separate. Elaborate planning provides gatherings a few times each year, maybe a family reunion every five or ten years. But the generational passing of the torch takes more interaction than that. We need to live lives more closely associated with one another to successfully pass knowledge between generations.

There are other benefits for the younger generation as well. As we learn to live with more broken homes and single parents, other adults are needed in our lives to help raise kids and build happy homes. If older generations of family are not available, elder citizens are present! Maybe next door, or in the church. But probably still in your community willing and ready to help. They just can’t do everything for themselves anymore. So they have needs. The younger family has needs. Share the needs and the services and build a better life together.

Co-housing may provide a creative solution.

Also today, many homes stand empty with previous owners unable to afford the mortgages, utilities and taxes on the property. Lenders, government and real estate managers could easily work together to use the properties intelligently while also solving broader social issues enumerated above.

Co-housing. Perhaps it is time to see this possibility with fresh eyes?

April 9, 2013