The senior cohousing handbook : a community approach to independent living / Charles Durrett

Includes bibliographical references.

Prologue by William H. Thomas -- Foreword by Patch Adams -- Acknowledgments -- Introduction -- Part One: Introducing senior cohousing: 1. Taking charge of the rest of your life -- 2. Cohousing: an old idea - a contemporary approach -- 3. Senior cohousing: a proven approach - a new application -- Part Two: Senior cohousing in Denmark: an inside look: 4. Munksogard: strong roots in fertile soil -- 5. Other Danish senior cohousing communities: Otium, Gimle, Mariendalsvej, Korvetten -- Part Three: Creating a senior cohousing community 6. Feasibility: do we have a project? -- 7. Study group I: Aging successfully/ Aging in place-- 8. Study group II: the participatory design process-- 9. Study group III: policy -- Part Four: The first wave- pioneering senior cohousing in America: the beginnings of an American movement: 10. The first wave -- 11. Where do we go from here? -- Appendix -- Selectec bibliography -- Index -- About the author

No matter how rich life is in youth and middle age, the elder years can bring on increasing isolation and loneliness as social connections lessen, especially if friends and family members move away. Senior cohousing fills a niche for this demographic―the healthy, educated, and proactive adults who want to live in a social and environmentally vibrant community. These seniors are already wanting to ward off the aging process, so they are unlikely to want to live in assisted housing. Senior cohousing revolves around custom-built neighborhoods organized by the seniors themselves in order to fit in with their real needs, wants, and aspirations for health, longevity, and quality of life. Senior Cohousing is a comprehensive guide to joining or creating a cohousing project, written by the US leader in the field. The author deals with all the psychological and logistical aspects of senior cohousing and addresses common concerns, fears, and misunderstandings. He emphasizes the many positive benefits of cohousing, including: Better physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health Friendships and accessible social contact Safety and security Affordability Shared resources Successful aging requires control of one’s life, and today's generation of seniors―the baby boomers―will find that this book holds a compelling vision for their future.