Cohousing, for example, offers an alternative: aging in community. Unlike assisted living, there is independence. Unlike aging in place, there is an open community to socialize. The idea is to foster personal growth within a supportive community. Neighbors care about, empathize, and respect each other.

If this were a primary, more openly accepted housing model, as opposed to urban sprawl and bottom-line focused developments that have come to prominence over the past 60 years, homes would be more affordable, public transit would be easier to attract, universal (or at least, adaptable) design would be common place. Most importantly, it would give elder and senior citizens the opportunity to balance life’s personal, emotional, and physical priorities. To learn more, check out Creating Cohousing: Building Sustainable Communities, by Kathryn McCamant and Charles Durrett, as well as the Senior Cohousing Handbook , by Charles Durrett.
http://www.newsociety.com/Contributors/D/Durrett-… http://www.cohousingco.com