There should be a Group where seniors without

[glinda]

family or are isolated can get to know potential people to share rent with.
Being old and with limited monies is very hard especially if you have no one.
I personally wish there were "houses" that had separate apartments which were all 55plus age that afforded privacy yet had the support to exist with the help of others.

[Chiquitita]

1. I agree with you

This is a great idea and would make life more fun too.

[glinda]

4. I think so with proper match ups.

[In_The_Wind]

2. I agree, that would be wonderful.

[glinda]

5. In some cases I imagine some people would be open to relocating.

For myself I would be open to NY, VT, Maine, although I am in MN. Always scary of thinking of such huge moves but to be honest, if you have no one....why not move where you like it.

[Curmudgeoness]

3. I have always thought this was a great idea.

This is probably where the "senior communities" started, although they are much too pricey for me. I have no family near me, and would love to be someplace where I had more interaction with other people.

These groups would really have to be more focused on local areas for people wanting to try this out. I have seen, in some large cities, where a group of seniors have bought a house together, and everyone has a room or their own but share the kitchen, bathrooms, and family rooms. The stories I have seen said that they worked out well, but I am sure that it depends on the people involved.

I hope you have Happy Holidays, even if you are alone for the holiday. I intend on having a nice day.

[glinda]

6. Thanks! I think you are right all the way around on senior Communities. They are unaffordable to

most people. They usually have staff but to be honest, a "worker" is helpful that comes in and out.
My thinking is a lot of privacy as the number one issue. Shared kitchens are ok but to be able to have almost one's own efficiency apartment and bath would be excellant. Ideally located in walking areas to goods.
Like no more than five people max. Small, private but workable.

[ellenrr]

9. yeah.. once there was an apartment building in NJ, which

had been constructed (or re-constructed) so each person or family had their own separate living quarters, but shared a kitchen and a large common area.

This was in operation a long time ago. (maybe 50 years).

this would be close to ideal, imo.- Sharing eating and cooking would be a boon.

[my2sense]

7. This sounds wonderful

I too would be interested in sharing living expenses. I have read about some senior women sharing homes but it seems to be a small movement. Here are a few links I found:

http://www.aarp.org/home-family/your-home/info-05-2013/older-women-roommates-house-sharing.html
http://nationalsharedhousing.org/media-coverage/
http://goldengirlsnetwork.com/

[glinda]

11. Thanks.

[ellenrr]

8. this would be great. There is "senior housing" where I live

some of it limited by income.
I know this is not what you mean.
I think a big house would be much more human.
than this huge (100-unit) bldg where I live.

but it does afford company to people who otherwise wouldn't have.

I am lucky to be here, otherwise I would be homeless.

I know so many people over 50 or 55 who are looking to share housing.
Under capitalism this is not possible.
Unless one is well-off.

[glinda]

12. I know that Laws vary from State to State but it seems totally unjust

to say who can live or rent with a person.
I read of one house somewhere where like four families or couples were sharing and they made them all move out.

[ellenrr]

10. Check out this article on socialized housing.

 Let’s get rid of private housing.

Plenty of time and effort have lately gone into analyzing a host of related crises—homelessness, unaffordable urban real estate, devastating gentrification, and a housing bubble whose burst landed us in the Great Recession. But the explanations tend to be incomplete, the attributions shortsighted, and the policies rearguard. For every liberal who insists that deregulating zoning laws will curb skyrocketing urban housing prices, there’s a conservative who blames the 1977 Community Reinvestment Act for the housing bubble, and none of them is anywhere near the mark.

The true culprit is so deeply embedded in American notions of wealth, rights, and property that we cannot see it for the terrible economy policy it is: private housing. Real estate as a store of private wealth is the rotten tree that sprouts these diseased branches, and the solution is to quit pruning twigs and chop the sucker down.


http://www.thenation.com/article/how-to-get-rid-of-your-landlord-and-socialize-american-housing-in-3-easy-steps/

[glinda]

15. A senior friend of mine in Denmark lives in something like this.

She has a good life.

[SheilaT]

13. Personally, I like living alone,

and I'm not sure I would ever be willing to share a house or apartment with others. Privacy would be a huge issue. Then there are different standards of cleanliness. Who is going to do the dishes? What if I like to leave them in the sink for a few hours before I wash them, and you want to wash them immediately? How about food choices? You might really love certain strong-smelling things that make me feel a bit ill, or vice versa. What if I load up the one crockpot three hours before you intended to use it?

I can see the underlying appeal of sharing expenses, but the reality of living together might not necessarily be such a great thing.

[glinda]

14. I agree. I am the same way. What I am talking about though is a more private

set up. Almost like a quad apartment only a house. Like a four-plex where each person knows that there are others around for their well being and safety. Some shared expenses.....but private.
Not everyone wants to live in a commune like thing. I do not. Yet I think it would be nice to have independence as long as possible and sometimes "help" can be hired for cleaning apartments, etc.....
I guess a two story might be difficult for stairs and all but....I can dream anyways of something that is less institutionalized and less expensive.

[SheilaT]

16. Oh, I can understand why others might want

a different living arrangement.

Where I live, in Santa Fe, there are complexes only for those 55 or older. They are full apartments and tend to have pretty nice common areas that some of the residents make use of, and others don't. I have friends who live in some of those. As it happens, almost everyone who lives in those places is also on a limited income, which winds up presenting other problems. But it does mean that the rents there are less than market rate, which is what people with low income need.