I worked on a project a few years ago where I had to design a retirement home. Many of my colleagues worked on buildings suited for elderly with Alzheimer or focused on older adults with mental health issues. I had a completely different approach to this program. The first problem I saw visiting several retirement houses and talking with elderly citizens was that they were lonely.
Let's consider Carlos, a 70-year-old man. Carlos lost his wife to an illness a few years ago and his family visits a couple of times a month. He enjoys long morning walks, relishing the sound of birds and the sight of children playing in parks. However, he returns to an empty apartment in a large building block. Being next to a rental apartment, he never had enough time to build relationships with his neighbors. The TV or radio is always on at his house because Carlos likes to have noise in the background while he does his routine activities. Carlos may not know what cohousing is.
What is Cohousing?
Cohousing, a term unfamiliar to many, is gaining traction in various parts of our country. It's a model of community housing based on the concept of collaborative consumption. Essentially, a group of people with similar values and lifestyles decide to design a community that suits them. Each member will have their own private home, but within the residential area, there are shared indoor and outdoor spaces for all members to enjoy.
These communities meet the essential needs of today's households, including child and elder care, social interaction, and notably, economic efficiency. Cohousing combines the independence of private dwellings with the benefits of community living. It recreates neighborhoods with a sense of place and the accompanying sense of belonging. Most cohousing designs worldwide strike a balance between privacy and community. They also prioritize environmental considerations, emphasizing pedestrian access and open spaces.
These projects create cross-generational neighborhoods that support traditional family and community values.
What does Carlos think?
Carlos may choose this type of housing model because it allows him to maintain his independence and avoid being a burden on his family. He looks down to the courtyard when kids are playing and most days he joins them and tells them stories. He no longer takes solitary walks, as many of his neighbors join him every morning. What he appreciates most are the communal dinners they organize three times a week. Everyone contributes to cooking, and they all gather around a large table to catch up on each other's lives. Carlos's next-door neighbor is training for a marathon, and the family downstairs just got a new dog. Carlos adores animals and hopes they'll let him take the dog on his morning walks.
The activities organized within a coliving community are crucial for individuals. Studies show that proximity and frequent unplanned interactions are critical factors in forming and sustaining friendships.
Would this change the concept of Retirement Houses?
I believe this concept could address the significant issue of isolation in our society. We're learning, as human beings, the value of sharing our resources. With platforms like Airbnb, we're staying in other people's homes, which a few years ago would have been unthinkable. We're in the midst of a movement that's making the world smaller, faster, and more accessible. The US Surgeon General has declared isolation to be a public health epidemic. Cohousing offers an antidote to isolation.
Despite this, the new generation spends more time looking at screens than engaging in face-to-face interactions. However, there's still an older generation that values face-to-face conversations.
The elderly face many challenges in retirement homes, including changes in environment, feelings of loneliness and isolation, lack of physical activities, physical limitations, and restricted accessibility, lack of transportation, and financial issues. It's fascinating that these problems can be mitigated by creating communitas. Communitas, a Latin noun, refers to the spirit of community. It describes an unstructured state where all members of a community are equal, allowing them to share a common experience. This community not only shares resources but also time and life experiences.
Conclusion
Making coliving the primary option for the elderly would not only improve their lives but also enhance our society. Learning to live as a community is a vital concept we should implement in our cities and neighborhoods. I encourage you to get to know your neighbors and fight the isolation prevalent in our society.
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