Elder Cohousing Communities

Several years after introducing cohousing to the United States, architect Charles Durrett returned to Denmark to explore a new trend that had developed there: cohousing for elders. Though elder cohousing shares the same defining characteristics as intergenerational cohousing, the new issues we are likely to face “as we move with meaning and joy towards the end of our lives”¹ — our own diminished capacity and our commitment to mutual care — dramatically impact the planning and design:

• Using universal design, each living space can transition from a home for an active lifestyle to one that supports progressing needs for accessibility.
• Common areas, indoors and out, are designed to provide easy access and recreation for all levels of physical ability.
• Studio residences can be included in a community’s common house to provide living quarters to home health aides whose services may be shared by several residents, allowing members to remain at home for all but major medical emergencies.

ElderSpirit in Abingdon VA

The effort to build this country's first elder cohousing community began in 2000, when Dene Peterson, a former nun who was 70 at the time, obtained funding from the Retirement Research Foundation for pre-development of “a mixed-income co-housing community designed to foster mutual support and later life spirituality.” Her efforts came to fruition in the fall of 2006, when residents moved into the 29-unit community, which includes owner-occupied homes, rental unit and apartments attached to the Common House for less-independent elders.

The Goodness of Fit^© Questionnaire (used here with permission) suggests the deeply inclusive commitment to late life spiritual development and other shared values that form the cement out of which community grows:

• I respect other spiritual paths and do not hold mine as the only one.

• I have or would like to have a regular spiritual practice.

  	Click here to see article on ElderSpirit by Sally Abrahms in Time Magazine (October 23, 2006)

• I try to be as physically active as my health allows.

• I am interested in learning new things.

• I value a sense of community with others.

• I would like to participate in some group activities.

• I am willing to give some time to ElderSpirit Community work and responsibilities.

• I have a history of volunteer work and might like to continue.

• I would like to give and receive caring support as I age.

• I value the environment and act accordingly.

• I would like to further develop my gifts and talents and encourage others to develop theirs.

• I am open to change.

• I appreciate diversity in a community.

• I am willing to face the mysteries of aging and death.

Silver Sage in Boulder, CO

Boulder cohousing developer Jim Leach spied a unique opportunity when land became available across the street from Wild Sage, the intergenerational co-housing community he had developed earlier. Inspired by the book From Age-ing to Sage-ing by Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi, he envisioned a community centered around fostering an enlightened elderhood.

Referring to the community's age-specific nature and its easy access to an intergenerational community, Leach saw “Silver Sage was an opportunity to offer the best of both worlds.” Members of Silver Sage have the opportunity to focus on looking within, as well as reaching out, with others experiencing a similar phase of life. They will also have the chance to serve as mentors and surrogate grandparents, sharing the benefit of their reflections with the young residents of Wild Sage.

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