A Glimpse Of Different Senior Housing Alternatives

Housing is one of the most costly expenses to account for. Living expenses, including utilities, health care, transportation, and other necessities, increase over time. Here, looking for subsidized or alternative housing can help. You may also choose assisted housing facilities to get complete care with housing. In any case, you should compare the costs and features of all available options. Here are the housing options to consider before starting with the application process:

Affinity retirement communities

Retirement communities are meant for those 55 or older. They offer the chance to live independently while still having access to basic amenities. Some of the senior apartment services could be:

• Health centers
• Fitness training
• Recreational activities
• Social activities
• Other amenities

Affinity retirement communities, also known as niche retirement communities, house those with similar interests. Residents can live in separate or attached homes or apartments based on their work, interests, lifestyle, hobbies, and more. You can also consider continuing care retirement communities (CCRC), which offer long-term care to seniors.

NORC

Naturally occurring retirement communities, or NORCs, were not built for older adults. But today, NORCs house many seniors, as many choose to live here as they age. Such communities can help residents lead comfortable lives by providing various services and amenities. They also offer access to social services, medical care providers, and neighborhood representatives.

NORCs can be seen as a hybrid of independent and assisted living. The only thing to note is that those who help residents in NORCs are long-term neighbors instead of staff. Government or private organizations often fund NORCs to help senior residents get medical care and other services.

Housing co-operatives

A senior housing co-operative offers access to a rich social life without worrying about upkeep, chores, and living expenses that come with home ownership. Here, residents manage the co-op. This setup usually comes with a housing board of elected residents, who take a call on the type of shared services that would be offered to residents. The board also holds the right to approve and reject potential home buyers. Today, you can find all kinds of co-ops, from apartments to mobile homes to family units.

Co-housing

Co-housing consists of private homes built around similar shared spaces, such as clubhouses. In this setup, community members are financially independent but share joint responsibilities for running the neighborhood and making decisions jointly.

Shared spaces can be the front or back yard or sitting areas. You may also share a common room, kitchen, and dining space. So, you would have meals with other residents. The co-housing model allows you to live independently without being completely cut off from your surroundings.

Most co-housing setups have inter-generational residents who can help each other. So they do not need to hire staff to help members with daily tasks. Some senior co-housing options allow residents to hire staff or service providers to help with house chores, personal care, or other tasks.

House sharing

House sharing is inviting someone to live with you and share your home. This person could be a tenant or someone you know who is willing to help you with daily tasks and expenses. The idea is to save costs and also get companionship. So you can enjoy living comfortably and affordably with a housemate. This setup can involve people of the same or different ages and ethnicities. Also, two or more people could buy or rent a property and decide to live together.

House sharing is an excellent solution for low-income seniors who want to maintain their independence but avoid living alone. They can look for someone willing to share their living space in exchange for company and occasional help with transportation or caretaking. This setup can benefit both parties, offering each some security and comfort.

Village housing

The Village Housing Model for Seniors was founded in 2002 in the Beacon Hill neighborhood in Boston. The model is based on the idea of neighbors helping each other. So, you would continue living in your house or preferred community instead of moving into an assisted facility.

Today, more than 100 well-functioning village communities exist in the country. These villages also have a mix of paid staff and volunteers who help those in the community with anything they need. This can include help with technology, home repair, transportation, and grocery shopping.

Villages may also arrange social activities and other classes for seniors to help them lead happy, healthy lives. Members can help organize such activities and even pay annual fees to help the setup run and grow.