What is senior cohousing?
What a great way to combine private life with social life. Without feeling lonely. With intimacy and independence. With joy. And all this is because Cohousing is a collaborative, anti-speculative and popular housing model that is here to stay. It is a novel alternative to the traditional residential housing model to provide autonomy and independence in the ageing process.
A residential model for seniors - living at home and in company
The growth of the elderly in the Valencian Community, driven by the ageing of the population and the change in attitudes towards retirement, is making these models gain strength and popularity among the senior population.
This model offers independent housing to the senior sector: common areas and services, to elderly people, offering them services that cover all their needs, a social life, leisure activities and common rooms, assistance with nursing care, cleaning services, and the flats as a custom-designed private area, as well as the mutual support of their neighbours.
This model originated in the Nordic countries, specifically in Denmark in the 1960s among groups of families dissatisfied with existing housing and communities. Today it has developed into a way of improving the quality of life of the elderly with a variety of advantages such as the creation of stronger social connections, full rights to the use of private housing, large gardens and green areas that would be much more expensive privately, social control, quality design and materials, as well as 100% guaranteed comfort. In other words, living like at home with the added bonus of being an antidote to cognitive decline, unwanted loneliness and isolation.
You will remain your self-determined life.
Despite all these advantages, it is a residential model that is little developed in Spain, although it is becoming more and more known due to the positive impact it has for its community and neighbours. Our architecture studio, Interior Design and Project Management HoffmannWehr, develops with the creation of Habitat 50 Plus since the year 2010 projects for the senior population: cohousing projects or residences for the elderly as is the case of the project of the residence for dependent elderly people "Los jardines" projected in the Mediterranean town of Jávea.
We have taken part in various conferences with our speech’s to disseminate the concept of cohousing and senior housing, providing proposals for the real estate market.
Even so, cohousing is not an ideal alternative for everyone, which is why Habitat 50 Plus proposes other ideal alternatives to maintain autonomy as you get older without losing quality of life. What better time to start living in the best way? Within these housing solutions for the elderly we propose different options, including sheltered housing, living units, serviced flats and the adaptation of existing private homes. We also combine our residential concepts with commercial space for 50 plus activities in order to develop them.
In order to make the right decision on one housing option or another, you should first inform yourself and make sure that the characteristics of the chosen model are compatible with your expectations for retirement living. Cohousing or coliving is a model that requires social cohabitation and the use of shared facilities for leisure and recreational activities. Secondly, it would be ideal to create or join a group of people with similar interests with whom to share concerns, experiences or lifestyles in order to guarantee an ideal cohabitation. People with whom you wish to undertake a life project for the retirement period.
In Spain there are already several cities where these housing models are being developed. Associations such as SostreCivic.com, support the path of these projects against real estate speculation. Thanks to activities like this, access to housing is made easier for a large number of people. In the Valencian Community, these new forms of living, such as co-living and senior living, are driving investment. These new models are providing residents with a more affordable and community-based experience, while offering new investment opportunities for developers and investors.
It is anticipated that these new forms of housing for the elderly will continue to grow in popularity in the future, as they offer a response to the changing social and economic trends of the population. For more information on these housing concepts, please do not hesitate to contact us via the website of our architectural office, Interior Design and Project Management HoffmannWehr or via our Habitat 50 Plus website.
We will be happy to help you and find the solution that best suits your desire for 50 plus living!
