Guest Column: Aging in Community

by Jim Leach, CohoUS Board Member

Silver Sage Village, an urban senior cohousing community in Boulder, is among the earliest senior cohousing communities in the country, opening in 2007 with 16 owner-occupied units. Ten are market rate and six are permanently affordable, plus there are now two basement apartments as rentals. At present we have 28 residents, including 10 couples, 8 single women and no single men. The age range is currently 56 to 89. We are self-managed through five “standing teams,” contracting out a few basic services such as snow removal, but doing most of the work of managing our community ourselves.

It is helpful to share and read what other communities are doing, because we recognize that aging in a cohousing community contains many unknowns—it is a true social experiment. In fact, we would like to learn what the experience of senior communities has been in Europe—is the rumor true that some now have reverse-age restrictions, where new members have to be below a certain age? And how did Glacier Way evolve, the 8-unit community in Davis, CA where everyone was advanced in age when it started more than 25 years ago?

Continue reading on our blog.

The Commons

A (free) monthly gathering for the cohousing curious

(and experts too!)

Curious about cohousing but don’t know where to start? Want to meet with cohousing newbies and experts alike? This (free) monthly gathering will include a Cohousing 101 presentation and ample time to connect and ask questions. We’ll share cohousing lingo, best practices and more information on how to continue your cohousing journey. Join us once, or every time – we’ll be here every month on the 10^th at 10am MT.

New Guide to Starting a Community

As seniors look for more ways to stay socially engaged, there’s a new book that can be a great resource, Building Belonging: Your Guide to Starting a Residential Intentional Community. The book looks at the many aspects of starting an intentional community like cohousing. The author, Yana Ludwig, has 25 years of cooperative living experience, including four community start-ups. She has served as a trainer, facilitator, and consultant for progressive projects since 2005. The book was published by the Foundation for Intentional Community (FIC).

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Cohousing is part of a more sustainable, democratic and connected future.

To date, CohoUS has helped enable the development of over 200 cohousing communities in the US. These communities serve as examples of the sustainable and community-based neighborhoods our country will need in the future. Please support CohoUS and help us double that number in the next few years.

Your monthly gift will both support new initiatives as well as the continued nurturing of our communities and growth of our movement. As an Evergreen Neighbor, you can take pride in creating a legacy that will live on to support future generations.

Donations, as a community or as an individual, are accepted year round and can be made to:

Cohousing Association of the US

3860 Chase St

Wheat Ridge, CO 80212

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