Co-housing developments have gained a foothold in the U.S. and housing experts suggest that they are well-suited for aging baby boomers more interested in remaining in familiar surroundings than moving to retirement-friendly states like Arizona and Florida. Joani Blank, formerly of the Cohousing Association of the United States, says that the idea behind cohousing is simple – they are “intentional neighborhoods” designed for residents to interact with their neighbors. Although most currently admit residents of all ages, there is a growing interest in establishing communities exclusively for seniors.
Advocates say that with a minimal amount of care -- in some cases, just the help that neighbors can provide -- seniors can remain at home and relatively independent much later in life than they may otherwise have been able to. But the model is currently a niche option that only well-off seniors can afford. Some critics say more should be done to encourage co-housing developers to include a mix of affordable housing units in their plans. Active participation by local and state housing and zoning authorities in planning and design decisions may be an effective strategy for both attracting residents with more diverse backgrounds and financing these projects.
