What Are the Benefits of Senior Cohousing?
Have you ever heard of senior cohousing? While not as popular or well-known as some other senior living options, this living arrangement offers all the perks of retirement communities with a twist. In a senior living community, you’ll have your own private home with access to communal spaces, like dining areas, gyms, TV rooms, gardens, and more. Senior cohousing might seem like a modern concept, but as Prime Women notes, it’s been featured in television shows like The Golden Girls. You share everything with your neighbors, including living expenses and even resources! If the thought of finding your very own Dorothy to your Rose excites you, then senior cohousing might be a great choice for you! But what are the benefits? And what can this living arrangement offer you that a retirement community or senior apartment complex can’t?
A sense of community.
It happens. When we retire, we slowly begin to lose our sense of community, contact by contact. Suddenly, you’re not in the nine-to-five trenches with your coworkers, so you don’t have as much to talk about. Instead of sharing experiences, you can only swap memories, your relationship slowly dwindling in the process. Other friends may have moved away to different cities or even across state lines. And while you might be settling into the groove of retirement, your kids still have their own jobs, their own lives, and their own responsibilities. You might start to flounder. You might even start to feel lonely and wonder if you made a mistake retiring. And that’s where senior cohousing comes in. These communities are built for you to make those oh-so-important connections. It’s more than a neighborhood and more than a retirement community. It’s a place where you truly get to experience life alongside other like-minded seniors. A place where you can get back to the basics and get to know your neighbors. Maybe you aren’t in the nine-to-five trenches anymore, but you can still bond over shared experiences with your fellow residents!
Savings, savings, savings!
Did you know that the average retired household spends around $5,000 a month? With the cost of living seeming to rise a little more every day, we have to imagine a big portion of that money goes toward utilities and groceries. Plus, home upkeep isn’t cheap, especially if you pay for lawn care or housekeeping services! Fortunately, cohousing communities can help you spend less money. According to Oak Creek Community, cohousing communities are models of sustainability and are one-half as expensive as traditional senior retirement communities. You get to save money on rent, and with so many neighbors surrounding you, you have the opportunity to borrow instead of buy! So, if your electric bill has you raising your eyebrows and shaking your head, you might want to look into senior cohousing.
Social opportunities.
Loneliness may be as detrimental to your health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day. Sadly, it’s not always easy to scope out potential friendships, particularly when everyone wants to socialize online. And while commenting on a friend’s Facebook photo or FaceTiming can scratch your social itch, it’s not a substitute for face-to-face communication. Sure, you can join a senior center or a club, but allow us to introduce an even more permanent solution: senior cohousing communities! As we stated in our first paragraph, these communities can connect you to a community. But even more importantly, they can also introduce you to dozens of potential friends. Whether you choose an age-restricted community or one open to all ages, you’re certain to cross paths with a kindred spirit or two. The best part? You won’t even have to leave the community to hang out with your friends!
Better security.
Studies show that older adults who live alone are more likely to report feeling anxious or depressed than those who live with others. It’s no wonder! Even nowadays, with Amazon Ring cameras and more advanced technology, you never quite know who might be lurking in your neighborhood. And while some people are fortunate enough to have a neighborhood watch, they still might feel scared in their homes at night. Fortunately, senior cohousing communities offer a built-in security system! You’ll feel safer, knowing that you’re only a stone’s throw away from help. Even if you live alone in your senior cohousing community, you’re not truly by yourself. Your neighbors will always be a quick walk away!
Shared resources.
Raise your hand if you hate doing chores. We’d wager that a few hands shot into the air just now. Nobody likes doing chores, but you might especially hate them now that you’re retired. After all, nobody wants to spend their retirement scrubbing countertops or mopping their floors! And that brings us to the next benefit of senior cohousing: shared resources. We don’t just mean meals and communal spaces (though you get to share those, too!); your neighbors can help you take care of your lawn, run errands, or whatever else you might request. When people move to senior cohousing communities, they assume each other’s responsibilities. According to one Reddit user, residents at her father’s community take turns cooking, serving, and cleaning. Can you imagine having help whenever you need? If you move to a senior cohousing community, you don’t have to imagine it. That can be your reality every day!
Better quality of life.
As we age, we can start to lose our sense of independence. Worse still, we can lose our purpose. Some seniors might flounder in retirement, feeling adrift. Others might wonder if there’s more to retirement than just sitting around and watching TV. Other retirees might love doing chores and wish they could help others with theirs. If you fall into any of those camps, we have good news. A senior cohousing community might be exactly what you need! You can downsize without sacrificing your independence and be part of a real community. You won’t have to wonder if you’re making a difference because you’ll see the difference you’re making every single day! You can age in place safely and comfortably with your friends and a strong support system. If you choose to move into a cohousing community that isn’t age-restricted, you can even mentor the younger people or be the grandparent that a child in your community doesn’t have. What could be more fulfilling than that?
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Originally published July 25, 2025
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