If you can't imagine ever living in senior housing or abandoning your community, perhaps a conversation with like-minded friends might be a good first step. Co-housing or shared housing is an option that has some very attractive perks -- companionship with people you enjoy, lower expenses, and shared responsibilities. In the arrangement described in this article, the women sharing the house half-jest that a home health care aide could live in the extra basement room.
Wouldn't it be great to grow old with a cluster of friends in a comfortable home where you could all help each other deal with everyday issues and health concerns? A few determined people actually have created what’s called senior cohousing--small developments and neighborhoods that combine private homes with community connections and obligations and spaces.
Aging in place, in style, is Cynthia Leibrock's mantra. This designer and Harvard instructor has built an impressive glass and steel home in Colorado that pays attention to the needs that she and her husband may face as they age (wheelchair adaptable, refrigerator with shallow shelves for those with diminished olfactory senses, a mechanical lift for the tub.) Leibrock faces the question of marketing upscale housing for aging adults; she approaches the challenge with a sharp eye for beauty and a focus on healthy living.
